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DUKH  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 
DURHAM,  N.  C 

PERKINS  LIBRARY 

Uuke   University 
Kare  Doolcs 

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THE   INFIDEL; 


OR 


THE    FALL    OF    MEXICO 


A  ROMANCE. 


BY  THE  AUTHOR  OF  "CALAVAR."      V 

'  '  ■  '  Sf     v^^ 

—  Un  esforcado  soldado,  que  se  dezia  Lerma — Sn  fue  entre  los  Indios 
coino  aburrido  de  tinnor  del  iinsiito  Cortes,  a  qiiien  avia  ayudadd  a  val- 
var la  vida,  por  ciertas  cosas  de  enojo  que  Cortes  contra  el  tuvo,  (jtie 
aqui  no  dcclaro  por  su  honor:  nunca  mas  supiiiios  del  vivo,  ni  muorto, 
mala  Buspccha  tuvinio? 

Bernal  Diaz  del  Castillo — Hist.  Verd  dc  la  Conguista. 

No  hay  inal  que  por  bicn  no  venga, 
Dicen  adagios  vulgarcs. 

Calderon — La  Dama  Dur.ndc. 


IN  TWO  VOLUMES. 
VOIi.  I. 

PHILADELPHIA: 

CAREY,   LEA    &    BLANCHARD. 
1835. 


iSUtCCCtl,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year 
183.J,  by  Carev,  Lea  <fc  Blanciiard,  in  the  Clerk's  Office 
of  the  District  Court  for  the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


PHILADELPHIA : 

C.  SHERMAN  6l  CO.  PRINTERS,  NO.  19  ST.  JAMES  STREET. 


Pi 


THE   INFIDEL. 


CHAPTER  L 


The  traveller,  who  wanders  at  the  present  day 
along  the  northern  and  eastern  borders  of  the  Lake 
of  Tezcuco,  searches  in  vain  for  those  monuments 
of  aboriginal  grandeur,  which  surrounded  it  in  the 
age  of  Montezuma.  The  lake  itself,  which,  not  so 
much  from  the  saltness  of  its  flood  as  from  the 
vastness  of  its  expanse,  was  called  by  Cortes  the 
Sea  of  Anahuac,  is  no  longer  worthy  of  the  name. 
The  labours  of  that  unhappy  race  of  men,  whose 
bondage  the  famous  Conquistador  cemented  in  the 
blood  of  their  forefathers,  have  conducted,  through 
the  bowels  of  a  mountain,  the  waters  of  its  great 
tributaries,  the  pools  of  San  Cristobal  and  Zum- 
pango ;  and  these,  rushing  down  the  channel  of 
the  Tula,  or  river  of  Montezuma,  and  mingled  with 
the  surges  of  the  great  Gulf,  support  fleets  of 
modern  argosies,  instead  of  piraguas  and  chinam- 
pas,  and  expend  upon  foundering  ships-of-war  the 
wrath,  which,  in  their  ancient  beds,  was  wasted 
upon  reeds  and  bulrushes.  With  the  waters, 
which  rippled  through  their  streets,  have  vanished 
the  numberless  towns  and  cities,  that  once  beauti- 
fied the  margin  of  the  Alpine  sea ;  the  towers  have 
fallen,  the  lofty  pyramids  melted  into  earth  or  air, 
and  the  palaces  and  tombs  of  kings  will  be  looked 

VOL.    I.  2 


172015 


14  THE    INFIDEL. 

for  in  vain,  under  tangled  copses  of  thistle  and 
prickly-pear. 

The  royal  city  of  Tezciico  is  now,  though  the 
capital  of  a  republican  state,  a  mean  and  insignifi- 
cant village.  It  was  originally  the  metropolis  of 
a  kingdom  once  more  ancient  and  powerful  than 
that  of  Mexico ;  and  which,  when  it  had  shared 
the  fate  of  all  others  within  the  bounds  of  Anahuac, 
and  acknowledged  the  sway  of  the  Island  Kings, 
still  preserved  the  reputed,  and  perhaps  the  real 
possession  of  superior  civilization.  Its  princes,  in 
becoming  the  feudatories,  became  also  the  electors, 
of  Mexico ;  and  thus  added  dignity  to  an  indepen- 
dence which  was  only  nominal.  The  })olished 
character  of  these  barbarous  chieftains,  as  the 
world  has  been  taught  to  esteem  them,  may  be 
better  understood,  when  we  know,  that  the)^  sowed 
the  roadside  with  corn  for  the  sustenance  of  travel- 
lers, and  the  protection  of  husbandmen,  built  hos- 
pitals and  observatories,  endowed  colleges  and 
formed  associations  of  literature  and  science,  in 
which,  to  compare  small  things  with  great,  as  in 
the  learned  societies  of  modern  Euroi")e  and  Ame- 
rica, encouragement  was  given  to  the  study  of  his- 
tory, poetry,  music,  painting,  astronomy,  and 
natural  magic.  The  various  mechanical  trades 
were  divided  into  corporate  bodies,  and  assigned, 
each,  to  some  particular  quarter  of  the  city  ;  courts 
and  councils  were  regularly  established,  and  the 
laws  which  they  dispensed,  digested  into  uniform 
and  written  codes,  some  of  which  are  still  pvc- 
served.  The  kings  of  Tezcuco  themselves 
mingled  in  the  generous  rivalries  which  they 
fomented  :  there  are  still  in  existence, — at  least,  in 
the  form  of  translation, — several  of  the  odes  of 
Nezahualcojotl,  a  royal  Tezcucan  poet;  and  his 
hymns  to  the  Creator,  composed  half  a  century 
before  the  advent  of  the  Spaniards,  were  admired 
and  chanted  by  the  Conquerors,  until  devoted  by 


THE    INFIDEL.  15 

misjudging  and  fanatical  missionaries  to  the  flames 
whicii  con>siimed  the  written  histories  and  laws  of 
the  kingdom,  as  well  as  the  idolatrous  rituals  of 
the  priests,  with  which  last  the  others  were  unfor- 
tunately confounded.* 

A  few  ruins — a  cluster  of  dilapidated  houses — a 
galloping  Creole  on  his  high  Spanish  saddle,  with 
glittering  manga  and  rattling  anqttera, — and,  now 
and  then,  an  Indian  skulking  moodily  along,  in  his 
squalid  serape,\ — are  all  that  remain  of  Tezcuco. 

In  the  spring  of  1521,  the  year  that  followed  the 
flight  of  the  Spaniards  from  Mexico,  the  city  of  the 
Acolhuacanese  presented  all  its  grandeur  of  aspect, 

•  These  poems,  we  presume,  were  handed  down  orally. 
We  know  not  how  far  the  picture-writing"  of  the  Mexicans 
(the  art  of  interpreting"  which  appears  to  be  now  lost,) 
was  capable  of  conveying  any  such  thoughts  as  could  not  be 
represented  by  an  absolute  portrait.  No  system  of  writing 
that  is  not  essentially  phonetic  or  dialectical,  (i.  e.  represen- 
tative of  sounds,  or  of  language,)  can  be  made  to  express 
abstract  ideas,  which  may  be  defined  to  be  such  as  admit  of 
no  ideographic  or  metaphoric  representation.  If  they 
could,  mankind  might,  at  once,  enjoy  the  benefits  of  the 
universal  language,  (or,  to  speak  strictly,  a  substitute  for  it; 
for  it  would  convey  ideas  not  words,)  which  Leibnitz 
dreamed  of,  and  liishop  VVilkins,  and  many  others  after 
him,  so  vainly  attempted  to  construct. 

When,  tlierefore,  we  relate  any  very  curious  and  mar- 
vellous matters,  appertaining  to  Mexican  literature,  though 
we  speak  upon  the  authority  of  historians,  we  invite  the 
reader  to  receive  our  accounts  witli  some  grains  of  allow- 
ance. With  the  exception  of  a  few  arbitrary  symbols,  ex- 
pressive of  numerals,  and  a  few  other  objects  of  constant 
recurrence,  the  picture-writing  of  Mexico  spoke  in  ideas, 
not  words;  and  it  may  therefore  be  assumed,  that  it  could 
express  nothing  that  did  not,  or  by  a  stretch  of  ingenuity, 
could  not  be  made  to,  address  and  explain  itself  to  the 
eye. 

f  Tlie  Manga  and  Serape  are  Mexican  cloaks  worn 
scapulary-wise,  the  one  of  richly  embroidered  cloth,  the 
other  «f  blanket,  or  some  such  coarse  material.  The  An- 
quera  is  a  leather  housing,  embossed  and  gilt,  with  a  jingling 
fringe  of  bi^ass  or  silver  ornaments. 


1  i  C  \J  1 0 


16  THE  INFinEL. 

and,  to  the  eye,  looked  full  as  royal  and  imperish- 
able as  in  the  best  days  (tf  its  freedom.  But  the 
molewarp  was  di<r.£:ing  at  its  foundations ;  and  the 
cloud  which  had  ravaged  the  Mexican  valley,  and 
tlien  passed  away  into  the  east,  where  it  lay  for  a 
time  still  and  small,  '  like  to  a  man's  hand,'  had 
again  crept  over  the  mountain  barriers  to  its  gates, 
and  was  now  brooding  among  its  sanctuaries.  A 
group  of  Christian  men  sat  under  a  cypress-tree, 
without  the  wails,  regarding  the  great  pyramid,  on 
whose  lofty  terrace,  overshadowing  the  surrounding 
edifices,  floated  a  crimson  banner  of  velvet  and 
gold,  on  which,  besides  the  royal  arms  of  Spain, 
was  emblazoned,  as  on  the  Labarum  of  tiie  ( 'on- 
stantines,  a  white  cross,  with  the  legend,  imitated 
from  that  famous  standard  of  fanaticism.  In  hoc 
signo  vincemus.  If  other  proof  )iad  been  wanting 
of  tlie  return  of  the  Spaniards  to  the  scene  of  their 
discomfiture,  their  presence  in  Tezcuco,  and  their 
unchangeable  resolution  to  complete  the  work 
of  conquest  so  disastrously  begun,  it  might  have 
been  traced  abundantly  in  the  strange  spectacle, 
which,  equally  with  the  desecrated  temple,  divided 
the  attention  of  the  group  of  Castilians  at  the 
cypress-tree.  They  sat  on  a  little  swell  of  earth, 
—a  natural  mound  which  jutted  into  the  lake, 
whose  waters,  agitated  b)?-  a  western  breeze,  dashed 
in  musical  breakers  at  its  base ;  while  the  rustling 
of  the  leaves  above,  mingled  with  these  sounds  of 
waves,  a  tone  that  was  both  melancholy  and  har- 
monious. The  beautiful  i)rospect  of  Tezcuco, 
rising  beyond  fertile  meadows  in  the  livery  of 
spring,  flanked,  on  the  right  hand,  by  a  sheet  of 
dark  and  glossy  water, — with  white  towers,  turrets, 
and  temple-tops,  painted,  as  it  seemed,  on  a  back- 
ground of  mountains  of  the  purest  azure,  was 
enough  of  itself  to  engross  the  admiration  of  a 
looker-on,  had  there  not  Ix'en  ])resented,  hard  by, 
a  scene  still  more  .singular  and  romantic. 


THE  INFIDEL.  17 

A  train  of  warriors,  artificers  and  labourers,  tlie 
latter  bending  under  sucli  burtliens  as  liad  never 
before  descended  to  tiie  verge  of  Tezcuco,  was 
seen  passing,  at  a  little  distance,  towards  the  city, 
into  which,  as  was  denoted  by  a  sudden  explosion 
of  artillery  and  the  blast  of  trumpets  on  the  top  of 
the  pyramid,  the  leaders  were  just  entering,  while 
the  rear  of  the  procession,  extending  for  miles,  and 
winding  like  some  mighty  snake,  over  hill  and 
meadow,  was  lost  among  distant  forests. 

The  martial  salutation  from  the  town  was  an- 
swered by  the  whole  train  with  a  yell,  filling  the 
air,  and  causing  the  distant  hills  and  lakes  to  trem- 
ble with  the  reverberation.  In  this,  the  ear  might 
detect,  besides  the  war-cry  of  Indians,  "Tlas- 
cala,  Tlascala!"  the  not  less  piercing  shouts  of 
Spaniards,  "In  the  name  of  God  and  Santiago!"  as 
well  as  the  flourish  of  bugles,  scattered  at  intervals 
among  the  train.  If  the  broad  Sea  of  Anahuac 
trembled  at  the  sound,  it  was  with  good  reason ; 
for  the  clamour  of  triumph  indicated  the  approach 
of  those  unknown  naval  engines,  which  were  to 
plough  its  undefiled  bosom,  and  convert  every  bil- 
low into  the  vassal  of  the  stranger.  On  the  shoul- 
ders of  eight  thousand  Tlascalans,  were  borne  the 
materials  for  the  construction  of  thirteen  brigantines, 
with  which  the  unconquerable  Spaniard,  capable  of 
every  expedient,  meditated  the  complete  investment 
and  the  certain  reduction  of  Tenochtitlan.  The  iron, 
the  sails,  and  cordage  of  that  fleet  which  he  had 
caused  to  be  broken  up  and  sunk  in  the  harbour  of 
Vera  Cruz,  were  added  to  planks,  spars,  and  tim- 
bers from  the  sierras  of  Tlascala,  and  to  pitch  and 
rosin  from  the  pin  ales ,  or  pine-forests,  of  Huexot- 
zinco, — a  gloomy  and  broken  desert,  notorious,  in 
the  present  day,  as  the  haunt  of  bandits,  the  most 
brutal  and  merciless  in  the  world. 

The  brawny  carriers  of  these  massive  materials 
were  protected,  on  the  front  and  in  the  rear,  by  le- 

2* 


18  THE   INFIDEL. 

gions  of  their  countrymen,  arnied,  after  their  wild 
and  romantic  way,  and  clad  in  tunics  of  cotton  or 
maguey  cloth,  with  tiaras  of  feathers  ;  who  passed  by 
in  successive  bf)dies  of  sjiearmen,  archers,  slingers, 
and  swordsmen,  arranged  and  divided  in  the  man- 
ner of  their  Christian  confederates.  Besides  the.se 
guards  of  front  and  rear,  of  whom  the  liistorian 
Herrera  asserts,  there  were  180,000,  while  even  the 
modest  Clavigero  computes  their  numbers  at  full 
one-sixth  of  this  vast  host,  there  were  on  either 
flank,  bodies  of  picked  warriors,  marching  in  com- 
pany with  small  bands  of  Spaniards,  and  personally 
led  by  distinguished  Christian  cavaliers.  A  mili- 
tary man  may  form  a  juster  estimate  of  t)ie  numbers 
of  the  train,  by  being  told,  that  it  fbrmed  a  line 
more  than  six  miles  in  length,  the  whole  marching 
compactly,  and  in  strict  order,  so  as  to  be  best  able 
to  resist  an  attack  of  enemies. 

The  Spaniards  under  the  cypress-tree,  surveyed 
this  striking  spectacle  with  interest,  but  not  with 
the  grave  wonder  and  absorbing  admiration  of  men 
unfamiliar  with  such  scenes.  On  the  contrary,  it 
was  evident,  from  the  tone  of  the  remarks  with 
which  they  wiled  away  the  time  of  observation,  (for 
it  was  many  a  long  hour  before  the  last  of  the  train 
drew  in  sight,)  that  they  were  of  that  levity  of  spirit, 
or  in  that  wantonness  of  mood,  which  can  find  mat- 
ter for  ridicule  in  the  most  serious  of  occurrences. 
Thus,  they  beheld,  or  fancied  they  beheld,  some- 
what that  was  diverting  in  the  persons,  or  motions, 
of  the  stern  and  warlike  Tlascalans,  and  especially 
in  the  zealous  eagerness  with  which  these  barba- 
rians strove  to  imitate  the  bearing  and  gait,  as  well 
as  the  evolutions,  of  their  disciplined  associates. 
Nay,  their  raillery  was  extended  even  to  the 
Spanish  portion  of  the  train ;  and,  sometimes, 
when  a  comrade  passed  by,  if  near  enough  to  be 
made   sensible    of  the  jest,  he    was  saluted  with 


X 


THE  INFIDEL.  19 

some  such  outpouring  of  wit,  as  put  to  the  proof 
either  his  gravity  or  his  patience. 

These  happy  individuals,  to  whom  we  desire  to 
introduce  the  reader,  were  five  in  number,  and, 
with  a  single  exception,  though  betraying  none  of 
the  submissiveness  of  inferior  personages,  were 
evidently  of  no  very  exalted  rank  in  the  Christian 
army.  Their  attire  was  plain,  and  consisted,  for 
the  most  part,  of  the  cumbrous  escaupil,  or  cotton- 
armour,  over  which,  in  the  case  of  one  or  two,  at 
least,  were  buckled  a  few  plates  of  iron.  Most  of 
them  had  on  their  heads,  helmets,  or  rather  caps,  of 
the  same  flimsy  material,  sometimes  so  thickly 
padded  as  to  assume  the  bulk,  as  well  as  the  ap- 
pearance of  rude  turbans ;  all  wore  swords,  and 
two  had  crossbows  hanging  at  their  backs.  No 
distinction  of  station  could  have  been  inferred  from 
their  manner  of  discoursing  one  with  another ;  and 
it  was  only  by  the  morion  of  bright  steel,  richly  in- 
laid with  gold,  on  the  head  of  one,  and  the  polished 
hauberk  on  his  chest,  worn  more  for  display  than 
for  any  present  service,  that  the  wearer  would 
have  been  recognized  as  of  a  grade  superior  to  that 
of  his  companions.  He  was  a  tall  and  athletic 
cavalier,  with  a  long  chin,  and  cheeks  broad  and 
bony ;  and  a  singular  and  rather  unpleasing  ex- 
pression was  added  to  his  countenance  by  eyes 
disproportionably  small,  though  exceedingly  black, 
keen,  and  resolute.  A  small,  sharply  peaked  beard, 
—mustaches  so  thin,  long,  and  straight,  that  they 
looked  rather  like  the  drooping  locks  of  a  wo- 
man than  the  favourites  of  a  vain  gallant, — a  narrow 
but  lofty  forehead,  on  either  side  of  which,  divided 
and  smoothed  with  effeminate  care,  fell  masses  of 
straight  black  hair,  touched,  yet  almost  invisibly, 
with  the  traces  of  matured  manhood, — a  small  mouth, 
— a  prominent  nose, — and  a  complexion  exceedingly 
dark,  yet  rather  of  the  hue  of  iron  than  mahogany, 
completed  a  visage  which  a  stranger  would  not 


20  THE  INFIDEL. 

have  hesitated  to  attribute  to  a  man  of  decidetl 
rliaractor,  hut  without  darincto  deteni»iii<'  wluther 
that  was  of  ffood  or  ovii, 

Tlir  individual  wlio  would  liavo  l)oon  the  second 
to  attract  the  notice  of  a  wayfarer,  owed  this  dis- 
tinction rather  to  his  personal  deformity  than  to 
any  other  very  striking  characteristic.  He  was  a 
hunchback,  with  much  of  the  saturnine  and  sour 
expression  wiiicli  distinguishes  the  countenances  of 
the  deformed,  and  yet  of  a  spirit  so  much  belied  by 
his  looks,  that  he  heard,  recoirnized,  and  constantly 
re})lied  to,  without  anger,  the  nickname  of  Corco- 
badoy  or  the  humpbacked,  to  whicli  his  misfortune 
exposed  hiiu.  The  most  observable  peculiarity  in 
his  countenance,  was  the  uncommon  length  of  his 
nose,  which  so  far  intruded  upon  the  lower  part  of 
his  visage,  as  to  give  this  a  look  of  age,  which  was 
contradicted,  not  only  by  other  features,  but  by  the 
prodigious  muscularity  of  his  shoulders  and  arms. 
It  must  be  confessed,  however,  that  his  lower  ex- 
tremities were  entirely  unworthy  to  compare  with 
the  upper,  being  both  so  short  and  thin,  that  when 
he  stood  upon  his  feet,  his  arms  crossed  behind, — 
which  was  their  ordinary  position, — with  the  stout 
iron  plates  i)rotruding  from  both  back  and  breast, 
he  looked  rather  like  a  bundle  of  armour  and  gar- 
ments, exposed  to  the  air  and  supported  above  the 
earth  on  two  broken  pikestaves  or  javelins,  than  a 
living  and  liuman  creature. 

The  next  individual  was  a  man  of  good  stature, 
who  would  have  been  considered,  notwithstanding 
his  grey  hairs,  the  strongest  man  in  the  company, 
had  it  not  been  for  his  general  emaciation  and  an  ex- 
pression of  suffering  on  a  countenance  over  which 
disease,  contracted  among  the  hot  and  humid 
swamps  of  the  coast,  had  cast  the  sickliest  hues  of 
jaundice.  Indeed,  this  discolouration,  on  a  visage 
naturally  none  of  the  fairest,  was  of  so  deep  a  tint, 
that  it  had  gained  for  the  invalid,  as  \vell  as  f^r  a 


THE  INFIDEL.  81 

whole  ship's  crew  of  his  companions,  the  significant 
title  of  Ojo  Verde,  or  the  Green  Eye.  And  here  we 
may  as  well  observe,  that,  in  the  army  of  Cortes, 
the  wit  which  shows  itself  in  the  invention  of  such 
distinctions,  was  so  prevalent,  that  there  w^as  scarce 
a  man,  from  the  general  down  to  his  groom  or  scul- 
lion, who  had  not  been  honoured  by  at  least  one 
sobriquet. 

The  fourth  personage  was  a  man  of  indifferent 
figure,  remarkable  for  little  save  the  marvellous 
sweetness  of  his  eyes,  which  were  set  among  fea- 
tures exceedingly  sharp  and  harsh,  and  the  volu- 
bility of  his  tongue. 

The  fifth  sat  apart  from  the  others,  a  little  down 
the  slope  of  the  hillock,  with  tablets  in  his  hands, 
yet  so  plunged  in  abstraction,  or  so  much  wrapped 
up  in  the  contemplation  of  the  dark  lake,  the  little 
piraguas  dancing  over  its  billows,  and  the  far-distant 
turrets  of  the  infidel  city,  that  he  seemed  to  have 
forgotten,  not  only  the  presence  of  his  companions, 
and  the  passing  procession,  but  the  purpose  for 
which  he  had  drawn  forth  his  writing  implements. 

The  sound  of  the  cannon,  as  we  have  said,  was 
immediately  responded  to  by  the  shouts  of  the 
train ;  which,  commencing  at  the  gates  of  the  city, 
were  continued  and  prolonged  by  the  various 
bodies  that  composed  the  huge  and  moving  mass, 
until  they  died  away  in  the  distance,  like  peals  of 
rolling  thunder.  At  the  same  time,  the  Indians 
struck  their  tabours,  and  sounded  their  conches 
and  cane-flutes,  in  rivalry  with  the  Spanish  buglers ; 
and  a  din  was  made,  which,  for  a  time,  put  a  stop 
to  the  conversation  of  the  four  Castilians.  It  also 
startled  the  solitary  man  from  his  meditations,  but 
only  for  an  instant.  He  rose,  turned  his  eye  list- 
lessly towards  the  procession,  and  then  again  resum- 
ing his  seat,  he  was  presently  sunk  in  as  profound 
abstraction  as  before. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  cavalier  of  the  helmet  had 


22  THE  TNFIDEL. 

bent  his  gaze  upon  the  pyramid,  from  the  top  of 

which  the  canncjn-smoko  was  (h"i\  insr  slowly  away 
like  a  cloud,  and  revcalini;  the  proud  banner,  which 
it  had  for  a  moment  enveloped.  He  could  see, 
even  at  this  distance,  that  the  two  stone  turrets, — 
tlie  idt)l-chanibcrs, — on  the  summit,  were  crowned 
with  crosses,  and  that  the  flac-staff, — a  tall  cedar, 
that  might  have  made  a  mast  for  an  admiral's  ship, 
— was  surrounded  by  a  tent,  or  rather  pavilion,  of 
native  white  cloth,  broadly  striped  with  crimson, 
which  glittered  brilliantly  at  its  foot.  As  he  looked 
he  stroked  his  beard,  and  muttered,  addressing 
himself  to  the  hunchback, 

"  Harkoe,  Najara,  man !  give  me  the  benefit  of 
thy  thoughts,  and  care  not  if  they  come  out  like 
crab-apples.  What  thinkest  thou  of  Cortes  now  1 
Is  there  not  something  over-stately  and  very  regal- 
like  in  the  present  condition  of  his  temper  V 

"  Why  dost  thou  ask  that  of  me,  when  thou  hast 
Villafana  at  thy  elbow"?"  replied  the  hunchback, 
with  a  voice  worthy  the  acerbity  of  his  aspect:  "  if 
thou  wilt  have  dirty  water,  get  thee  to  the  ditch." 

"  You  call  me  Grunidor,  and  grumbler  I  am," 
said  he  of  the  sweet  eyes,  with  a  laugh.  "  I  grum- 
ble when  I  am  in  the  humour ;  and  I  care  not  who 
knows  it.  Am  I  a  ditch,  old  sinner  7  I'faith,  I  must 
be,  when  I  have  such  ill  weeds  as  thyself  growing 
about  me.  Wilt  thou  have  my  thoughts,  scfior 
Guzman,  on  this  subject  ?  I  can  speak  them." 

"  Be  quick,  then,"  said  the  cavalier ;  "  for  Corco- 
bado  is  digesting  an  answer  to  thy  fling,  which 
will  leave  thee  speechless." 

"  Pho,  I  will  bandy  mudballs  with  him  at  any 
moment,"  said  Villafana:  "  I  care  not  for  the  buffets 
of  a  friend.  As  for  the  noble  sefior,  the  Captain 
General,  what  you  say  is  true.  The  king's  letter 
hath  set  him  mad.  While  the  Bishop  of  Burgos 
was  still  in  power,  and  his  enemy,  he  was  e'en  a 
good  comi)anion, — a  comrade,  and  no  master.    De- 


THE  INFIDEL.  23 

monios !  'twas  a  better  thing  for  us,  when  his  au- 
thority rested  on  our  good- will,  and  no  royal  pa- 
tent." 

"  Ay,"  said  Guzman ;  "  when  we  were  but  rebels 
and  exiles,  denounced  by  the  governor,  cursed  by 
the  priest,  and  outlawed  by  the  king,  Cortes  was 
the  most  moderate,  humble,  and  loving  rogue  of  us 
all.     I  do  think,  he  is  somewhat  altered." 

"  Oh,  senior,  there  is  no  such  bond  for  our  friend- 
ship as  a  consciousness  of  dependence  upon  those 
who  love  us ;  and  nothing  so  efficacious  in  cooling 
us  to  friends,  as  the  discovery  that  we  can  do  with- 
out them.  His  authority  is  no  longer  our  gift ;  the 
bishop  has  fallen ;  the  king  has  acknowledged  his 
claims,  and  sent  him,  besides  a  fair,  lawful  commis- 
sion and  goodly  reinforcements  both  of  men  and 
arms,  a  letter  of  commendation  written  with  his 
own  royal  hands.  May  his  majesty  hve  a  thousand 
years !  but  would  to  heaven  his  letter  were  at  the 
bottom  of  the  sea.  It  has  brought  us  a  hard  mas- 
ter. Can  your  favour  solve  me  the  riddle  of  the 
king's  change  1  What  argument  has  so  operated  on 
his  mind,  that  he  now  does  honour  to  a  man  he  once 
condemned  as  a  traitor,  and  advances  him  into  such 
power  as  leaves  him  independent  even  of  the  Go- 
vernor of  the  Islands  1" 

"  The  very  same  argument,"  replied  Guzman, 
"  which  has  turned  thee — a  friend  of  Velasquez — 
into  the  most  devoted,  though  grumbling  adherent 
of  our  Captain — interest^  sirrah,  interest.  It  is 
manifest,  that  this  empire  was  made  to  be  won ;  and 
equally  apparent,  that  the  man  who  could  half  sub- 
due it,  though  trammelled  and  opposed  by  all  the 
arts  and  power  of  Velasquez,  was  the  fittest  to  con- 
clude the  good  work ;  and  what  was  no  less  per- 
suasive, it  was  plain,  our  valiant  Don  was  fully  de- 
termined to  do  the  work  himself,  without  much 
questioning  whether  the  king  would  or  not." 


24  THE  INFIDEL. 

"  Why,  by  heaven!"  cried  Villafana,  "you  make 
out  the  general  to  be  a  traitor,  indeed  !" 

"  Ay ; — for,  in  certain  cases,  there  is  virtue  in 
treason." 

•'  Hark  now  to  Villafana  !"  cried  the  liunchback, 
abruptly :  "  he  will  thank  you  for  the  maxim,  as  if 
'twere  a  mass  for  his  soul." 

"  /,  curmudgeon  ?"  exclaimed  the  grumbler. 
"  There  were  a  virtue  in  it,  could  it  bring  such 
fellows  as  thyself  to  the  block.  What  I  aver,  is, 
that  the  king's  honours  have  spoiled  our  general. 
By'r  lady,  I  see  not  what  good  can  come  of  sending 
us  a  Royal  Treasurer,  Franciscan  friars  with  l)ulls 
of  St.  Peter,  and  Lady  Abbesses  to  build  up  nun- 
neries, unless  to  make  up  more  state  for  our 
leader." 

"  Then  art  thou  more  thick-pated  than  I  thought 
thee,"  replied  the  cavalier.  "  The  bulls  will  make 
us  somewhat  stronger  of  heart,  and  therefore  better 
gatherers  of  gold  in  a  land  where  gold  is  not  to  be 
had  without  fighting.  La  Monjonaza  will  sanctify 
our  efforts,  by  converting  the  women ;  and  the 
king's  Treasurer  will  see  that  we  do  not  cheat  the 
king,  after  we  have  got  our  rewards,  as,  it  is  ru- 
moured, we  have  done  somewhat  already." 

"  Santos  !  I  know  what  thou  art  pointing  at,  Don 
Francisco,"  said  Villafana,  significantly.  "  The 
four  hundred  thousand  crowns  that  have  vanished 
out  of  the  treasury,  hah!  This  is  a  matter  that  has 
stained  the  General's  honour  for  ever.  And  as 
for  La  Monjonaza,  thou  knowest  there  are  dark 
thoughts  about  her." 

"  Have  a  care,"  said  Don  Francisco.  "  We  are 
friends,  and  friends  may  speak  their  minds :  but  1 
cannot  hear  thee  abuse  Don  Hernan." 

"  Hast  thou  never  been  as  free  thyself?"  cried 
Villafana,  with  a  laugh,  which  mingled  a  careless 
derision   with  good-humour.     "  Come,  now, — con- 


THE  INFIDEL.  25 

fess  thou  wert  pleased  to  be  appointed  Grand 
Guardian  and  Chamberlain, — or,  if  thou  wilt.  Grand 
Vizier, — to  his  god-sqp,  the  young  king  of  Tezcuco ; 
and  that,  since  he  gave  thee  Lerma's  horse,  thou 
hast  been  better  mounted  than  any  other  cavalier 
in  the  army." 

"  Thou  art  an  ass.  Cortes  has  ever  been  my 
friend;  and  when  I  have  complained,  as  I  have 
sometimes  done,  it  was  only  like  a  good  house-dog, 
who  howls  in  the  night-watches,  because  he  has 
nothing  better  to  amuse  him.  But  hold, — look! 
the  carriers  are  passed.  The  rear-guard  approaches. 
Now  is  my  friend  Sandoval  yonder,  betwixt  the 
two  Tlascalan  chiefs,  glorified  in  his  imagination. 
'Slid !  he  would  have  had  me  exchange  my  brown 
Bobadil  for  his  raw-boned  Motacila ! — Come,  Na- 
jara,  rub  up  thy  wit ;  fling  me  some  sweet  word 
into  the  teeth  of  the  Tlascalan  generals.  Dost  thou 
perceive  with  what  solemn  visages  they  approach 
us]" 

"  I  perceive,"  said  Najara,  "  that  Xicotencal  is  in 
no  mood  for  jesting.  It  is  said,  he  comes  to  join  us 
with  his  power  reluctantly.  Dost  thou  see  how  he 
stalks  by  himself,  frowning]  A  maravedi  to  a 
ducat,  he  would  sooner  take  us  by  the  throat  than 
the  hand !" 

"  Why  then,  be  quick,  show  him  thy  scorn  in  a 
fillip." 

"  Hast  thou  forgotten  it  has  been  decreed  a  mat- 
ter for  the  bastinado,  to  abuse  an  ally  ]" 

"  Ay  !"  cried  Villafana,  "  there  is  another  fruit  of 
a  king's  patent.  One  may  neither  laugh  nor  scold, 
gamble  nor  play  truant,  but  straight  he  is  told  of 
a  decree.  Faith,  when  Cortes  was  our  plain  Cap- 
tain, it  was  another  matter  :  if  there  was  aught  to 
be  done  or  not  to  do,  it  was  then,  in  simple  phrase, 
'  I  commend  to  your  favours,'  or,  '  I  beg  of  your 
friendships,  do  me  this  thing,'  or,  '  do  it  not,'  as  was 
needful.     But  now  the  Captain-General  deals  only 

VOL.  I.  3 


26  THE  INFIDEL. 

in  decrros  or  proclamations,  wherein  we  have  com- 
mands for  exhortations,  prohibitions  in  place  of 
dissuasi(jns,  and,  withal,  a  j^lentiful  crarnishincr  of 
stocks  and  duntreons,  whii)s  and  halters,  all  in  the 
kind's  name.  By  Santiajro !  there  is  too  much  state 
in  this." 

"  Pho  !  thon  art  an  Alirnazil  ;  why  shouldst  thou 
care?"  said  the  Cavalier.  "The  decrees  are  whole- 
some, the  restrictions  wise.  It  is  right,  we  should 
not  displease  the  Republicans  :  they  are  our  best 
friends, — very  quick  and  jealous  too;  and  we  were 
but  a  scotched  snake  without  them." 

"  If  they  fight  our  battles,"  said  Villaflina,  "  they, 
divide  our  s})oil.  In  my  mind,  that  black-faced 
Xicotencal  is  a  villain  and  traitor." 

"  Thy  judirment  is  better,  in  such  matters,  thaa 
another's,"  said  the  hunchback. 

"  Right !"  cried  Guzman  ;  "  the  Alguazil  will  be 
presently  in  his  own  stocks,  if  thou  dost  heat  him 
into  a  quarrel.  We  are  not  forbidden  to  abuse  one 
another.  Let  the  red  jackalls  pass  by  unnoticed ; 
we  have  mirth  enough  among  ourselves,' — we  will 
worry  our  Immortality.  Look,  Najara,  man  ;  dost 
thou  not  see  in  what  perplexity  of  cogitation  he  i.s 
involved, — yonder  dull  Bernal  I  Rouse  him  with  a 
quip,  now ;  pierce  him  with  a  jest.  Come,  stir ; 
rub  thy  nose,  make  thy  wit  as  sharp  as  a  goad,  and 
prick  the  ox  out  of  his  slumber." 

"  Ay,  good  Corcobado,"  cried  Villafana,  turning 
from  the  procession,  and  mischievously  eyeing  their 
solitary  and  abstracted  companion,  "  fling  out  the 
legs  of  thy  understanding,  like  a  rough  horse,  and 
see  if  thou  canst  not  strike  lire  out  of  his  flinty 
brain.  All  the  scratching  in  the  world  will  not 
do  it." 

"  Now,  were  you  not  both  besotted,  and  bent 
upon  self-destruction,"  said  the  deformed,  regarding^ 
the  pair  with  a  conmiiserating  sneer,  '*  you  would 
not  disk  me  to  disturb  our  hnmortality  ;  who  is,  at 


THE  INFIDEL.  27 

this  moment,  meditating  by  what  possible  stretch  of 
benevolence  he  can  hand  your  names  down  to 
posterity ;  a  thing,  which  if  he  do  not  effect,  you 
may  be  sure,  nobody  else  will.  Seiior  Guzman, 
'twas  but  a  half-hour  since,  that  he  asked  me,  if  I 
could,  upon  mine  own  knowledge,  acquaint  him 
with  any  act  of  thine  worthy  of  commemoration." 

"  Ay,  indeed  !"  said  the  cavalier,  laughing ;  "  was 
Bernal  of  this  mind,  then?  He  asked  thee  this 
question]  By  my  faith,  have  I  not  killed  as  many 
Indians  as  another  ]  Have  I  not  encountered  as 
many  risks,  and  endured  as  many  knocks  1  Out 
upon  the  misbelieving  caitiff!  he  asked  thee  this 
question  1  Thy  reply  now  ?  pr'ythee,  thy  learned 
answer  to  this  foolish  interrogatory  1  What  saidst 
thou,  now,  in  good  truth?" 

"  In  good  truth,  then,"  replied  Najara,  with  a  sour 
gravity,  "  I  told  him,  I  had  it,  upon  excellent  au- 
thority, though  I  believed  it  not  myself,  that  thou 
wert  a  cavalier,  equal  to  any,  in  the  virtues  of 
a  soldier, — bold,  quick,  and  resolute, — cool  and 
fiery, — a  lover  of  peril,  a  relisher  of  blood;  one 
that  had  won  more  gold  than  he  could  pocket,  more 
slaves  than  he  could  make  marketable,  and  more 
renown  than  he  cared  to  boast  of;  a  prudent  cap- 
tain, yet  a  better  follower,  because  of  the  ardour  of 
his  temper,  which  was,  indeed,  upon  occasion,  so 
hot,  that,  sometimes,  it  was  feared,  he  might  take 
Cortes  by  the  beard,  for  being  too  faint-hearted." 

"  Oh,  thou  rogue,  thou  merry  thing  of  vinegar, 
thou  hast  belied  me !"  cried  Guzman ;  "  thou 
knowest,  I  would  sooner  eat  my  arms, — lance, 
buckler,  and  all, — than  lift  my  hand  against  the 
General:  I  would,  by  my  troth,  for  I  love  him. 
But  come,  now, — thou  saidst  all  this,  upon  good 
authority?  You  jest,  you  rogue, — we  are  all  jeal- 
ous and  envious.  We  have  good  words  from  none 
but  Cortes. — What  authority?" 

"  Marry,  upon  that  of  thine  own  lips,"  replied  the 


28  THE  IXFIDEL. 

hiincliback  ;  "  for  I  know  not  wiio  else  could  have 
invented  so  liberally." 

"  Out !"  cried  the  cavalier,  somewhat  intempe- 
rately  ;  "  you  presume — " 

"Ha!  ha!  a  truce,  a  truce,  Don  Francisco!" 
exclaimed  Villafana;  "a  fair  iiit— no  quarrelling; 
for  captain  though  thou  be,  thou  knowest  I  am 
sworn  Alguazil,  as  well  as  head-turnkey,  chief 
executioner,  and  the  Lord  knows  what  beside. 
No  w^rath  among  friends — A  very  justifiable,  fair 
hit !  Najara  must  have  his  ways.  Thou  wilt  see, 
by  and  by,  how  he  will  lay  7ne  by  the  ears.  Come, 
Corcobado,  begin. — He  who  plays  with  colts,  must 
look  to  be  kicked. — Come  now,  be  sharp,  fear  not; 
I  am  a  dog,  and  love  thee  all  the  better  for  cudgel- 
ling." 

"  I  know  thou  art,  and  I  know  thou  dost,"  said 
Najara ;  "  for  I  remember,  that  ever  since  Don  Her- 
nan  had  thee  scourged,  for  abusing  the  Tlascalan 
woman,  thou  hast  been  a  more  loving  hound  than 
any  other  of  the  Velasquez  faction." 

"  Fuego  de  dios  !  Pho, — Good  !  Ha  !  ha  !  very 
good !"  exclaimed  Villafana,  laughing,  though 
somewhat  disconcerted.  "I  confess  the  beating; 
but  then  I  have  a  back  to  endure  it — Hah  !  A  Ro- 
land for  an  Oliver,  a  kick  for  a  buffet !  Thou  liest, 
though,  as  to  the  cause :  'twas  for  taking  the  old 
senator  they  call  Maxiscatzin  by  the  beard,  when 
he  had  given  me  the  first  sop  of  the  Maguey-liquor. 
I  was  drunk,  sirrah,  broke  rules,  disobeyed  orders, 
and  so  deserved  my  guerdon.  Wilt  thou  be  satis- 
fied ]  By  this  hand,  I  grumble  not.  I  should  trounce 
thee  for  the  like  misdemeanour, — that  is,  if  I  could 
find  whereon  to  lay  my  scourge.  Aha !  wilt  thou 
pull  noses  with  me  !  Come,  what  saidst  thou  of  me 
to  Bornal  ?  I  bear  thee  no  malice,  man ; — no,  no  more 
than  the  general. — Drunk  indeed  ?  He  should  have 
struck  my  head  off!" 


THE  INFIDEL.  29 

V 

<'  I  told  him,"  said  Najara,  "  that  thou  wert,  in 
some  sense,  worthy  to  be  chronicled." 

"  Many  thanks  for  that,"  said  Villafana,  "  were  it 
only  on  account  of  the  beating." 

"  For  though  thou  wert  as  naturally  given  to 
grovelling  as  a  football,  yet  wouldst  thou  as  cer- 
tainly mount,  at  every  kick,  as  that  same  bag  of 
wind." 

"  Bravo !  bravo !"  cried  the  Alguazil,  with  a  roar 
of  delight,  in  which  he  was  joined  by  Guzman ; 
"  thou  art  as  witty  and  unsavoury  as  ever,  and 
thou  dingest  me  about  the  ears  as  with  a  pine-tree. 
What  else,  cielo  miol  what  else  saidst  thou  to 
Bernal  V 

*'  Simply,  that  thou  hadst  more  boldness  than 
would  be  thought  of  thee,  more  dreams  than  would 
be  reckoned  of  thy  dull  brain,  and  such  skill  at 
rising,  notwithstanding  the  clog  of  thy  folly,  that  it 
was  manifest  thou  wouldst  not  be  content,  till  thy 
feet  were  two  fathoms  from  the  earth,  and  thy 
crown  as  near  to  the  oak-bough  as  the  rope 
would." 

"  Oh,  fu  !  fy !"  said  Villafana,  "  hast  thou  no  bet- 
ter trope  for  hanging  ]  Have  you  done  ]  Am  I  de- 
spatched ?  Get  thee  to  better  game,  then  ;  and  see 
thou  art  more  metaphoric.  Hast  thou  no  verjuice 
for  our  good  friend  here,  Camarga  V 

The  individual  thus  alluded  to,  though  giving  his 
attention  to  the  conversation,  had  maintained  a 
profound  and  unsympathetic  silence  during  all. 
He  stood  leaning  against  the  tree,  folding  over  his 
breast,  and  even  wrapping  about  his  chin,  the  long 
cloak  of  striped  cotton  cloth — the  product  of  the 
country, — the  bright  and  gaudy  colours  of  which 
contrasted  unnaturally  with  the  sickly  hue  of  his 
visage.  Throughout  all,  when  not  particularly  no- 
ticed, his  countenance  wore  an  expression  of  as 
much  mental  as  bodily  pain ;  but  when  thus  ac- 
costed by  Villafana,  it  changed  at  once,  and  in  a 

3* 


30  THE  INFIDEL. 

remarkable  degree,  from  jiloom  to  goocl-humour, 
and  even  to  aj^parent  payoty.  It  is  true,  tliat,  at 
the  monieiit  when  liis  name  was  pronounced,  lie 
started  quickly  with  a  sort  of  nervous  airitation ; 
and  a  sudden  rush  of  blood  into  his  face,  niinixling 
with  its  l)i]ious  stain,  covered  it  with  the  swarthiest 
purple:  but  tliis  immediately  i)assed  away — per- 
haj)s  before  any  of  his  connades  had  noted  it. 

"  I  cry  3'(iu  mercy,  senor  Villafana,"  he  said;  "I 
am  as  unworthy  to  be  made  the  butt  of  wit  as  the 
su])ject  of  history.  My  ambition  runs  not  beyond 
my  conscience ;  the  month  that  I  have  spent  in  this 
land, — and  it  is  scarce  a  month, — has  been  wasted 
in  disease  and  idleness.  A  5''ear  hence,  I  shall  be 
more  wortliy  your  consideration.  But  tell  me, 
p>od  friends,  is  it  true,  as  you  say,  that  yonder 
wortliy  soldier  hath  been  appointed  the  iiistorian  of 
your  brave  exploits  ]  By  mine  honour,  his  head 
seems  to  me  lietter  fitted  to  receive  blows  than  to 
remember  them,  and  his  hand  to  repay  them  rather 
than  to  record." 

"  He  is,  truly,"  said  Villafana,  "  our  Immortality, 
as  we  call  him,  or  our  Historian,  as  he  denominates 
himself  As  to  his  appointment,  it  comes  of  his  own 
will,  and  not  of  our  grace;  but  we  quarrel  not  with 
his  humours.  He  conceives  himself  called  to  be 
our  chronicler.  Who  cares  !  He  can  do  no  harm. 
I  am  told,  he  doth  greatly  abuse  Cortes,  especially 
in  the  matter  of  the  slaves,  and  the  gold  we  fetched 
from  Mexico  in  the  Flight.  By'r  lady,  I  have  heard 
some  sharp  things  said  about  that." 

"  You  said  them  yourself,"  muttered  Najara.  "  It 
is  well  you  are  in  favour." 

"  Ay,  by  my  troth,"  cried  Guzman  ;  "  Cuidado, 
Villafana !  Don  Hernan  will  be  angry.  Good 
luck  to  you  !  You  are  the  lion's  small  dog  :  seize 
not  his  majesty  by  the  nose." 

"  Pho,  friends !  here's  a  coil,"  said  the  Alguazil, 
stoutly :  "  Don  Hernan  knows  me :    "  I   will  say 


THE  INFIDEL.  31 

what  I  think.  I  have  maintained  to  his  face,  that 
there  was  foul  worl^  with  the  gold,  and  that  we 
have  been  cheated  of  our  shares ;  I  have  told  him 
what  ill  work  was  made  of  both  Repartimientos, — 
the  partition  of  the  slaves, — at  Segura-de-la-Fronte- 
ra,  and  here  at  Tezcuco, — scurvy,  knavish  work, 
seiiores :  One  may  fetch  angels  to  the  brand,  but, 
ay  de  mi !  the  iron  turns  them  into  beldames  1" 

"  Ay,  there  is  some  truth  in  that,"  said  Guzman, 
a  little  thoughtfully.  "  No  man  honours  Don  Her- 
nan  more  than  myself;  and  yet  did  he  suffer  me 
to  be  choused  out  of  the  princess  I  fetched  from 
Iztapalapan." 

^*  Ay,  the  whole  army  witnessed  it,  and  there  was 
not  a  man  who  did  not  cry  shame  on  you  for  taking 
It  so—" 

"  Good-humouredly,"  interrupted  the  cavalier. 
■*'  Rub  me  as  thou  wilt  for  a  jest,  Villafana ;  but 
.touch  me  not  in  soberness." 

^'  Pshaw  I  can  I  not  abuse  thee  as  a  friend,  with- 
out the  apology  of  a  grin  ?  Tiiou  hadst  been  used 
basely,  had  not  Cortes  made  up  the  loss  with  Ler- 
ma's  horse.  I  have  heard  thee  complain  as  much 
as  another;  and  even  now,  thou  art  as  bitter  as 
any  against  this  mad  scheme  of  the  ships.  Demo- 
nios !  our  general  will  have  us  rot  in  the  lake,  like 
our  friends  of  the  Noche  Triste  !" 

"  Thou  errest,"  said  the  cavalier,  gravely.  "  I 
have  changed  my  mind,  on  this  subject :  I  perceive 
we  shall  conquer  this  city." 

"  Wilt  thou  be  sworn  to  that  1"  exclaimed  the 
Alguazil,  earnestly.  "  I  tell  thee,  as  a  friend,  we 
are  all  mad,  and  we  are  deluded  to  death.  If  we 
launch  the  brigantines,  we  are  but  gods'  meat — food 
for  idols  and  cannibals.  We  were  fools  to  come 
from  Tlascala.  Would  to  Heaven  we  had  de- 
parted with  Duero  !  We  are  toiled  on  to  our  fate, 
to  make  Cortes  famous :  he  will  win  his  renown 


32  THE  INFIDEL. 

out  of  our  corses.     What  snyst  thou,  Najara,  ml 
Corcobado,  mi  Hacedor  dn  Tropos  ?" 

"  Even  that  the  will-o-tlT-wi-sps,  the  Ijines-fatui, 
risinsr  out  of  our  decayinsr  bodies,  will  forsake  each 
honest  man's  corse,  to  pather,  frl<^ry-wise,  about 
the  head  of  our  leader. — Is  tiiat  to  thy  likinc: !" 

"  Marvellously !  Thy  wit  explains  and  gives 
tontrue  to  my  thouirhts.  Thou  seest  thinsrs  clearly 
— I  am  triad  thou  art  of  my  way  of  thinkinir.  This 
is  our  destiny,  if  we  continue  our  insane  enter- 
prise." 

"A  jx^st  upon  thee,  clod !"  cried  the  Hunchback; 
"  I  did  but  supply  thee  a  simile,  in  pity  of  thine 
own  barrenness,  /of  thy  way  of  thinking?  Dost 
imagine  I  will  hang  with  thee?  /  see  things 
clearly?  Marry,  I  do.  Give  tongue  to  tiiy 
thoughts  ?  Ratsbane !" 

As  Najara  spoke,  he  bent  his  sour  and  piercing 
looks  on  the  Alguazil ;  who,  much  to  the  surprise 
of  Camarga,  grew  pale,  and  snatched  at  his  dagger, 
in  an  ecstasy  of  rage,  greatly  disproportioned  to  the 
offence,  if  such  there  could  be  in  what  seemed  idle 
and  unmeaning  sarcasms.  The  wrath  of  Villafana, 
however,  was  checked  by  the  mirth  of  the  cavalier, 
Don  Francisco,  who  exclaimed  with  the  triumph  of 
retaliation, 

"  A  fair  knock,  by  St.  Dominic !  Art  thou  laid  by 
the  heels,  now?  Sirrah  Alguazil,  if  thou  showest 
but  an  inch  more  of  thy  dudgeon,  I  will  have  thee 
in  thine  own  stocks, — ay,  faith,  and  on  thine  own 
block,  into  the  bargain.  Forgettest  thou  the  de- 
cree ?  Death,  man,  very  mortal  death  to  any  one 
who  draws  weapon  upon  a  christian  comrade:  thy 
hidalgo  blood,  (if  thou  hast  any,  as  thou  art  ever 
boasting,)  will  not  save  thee.  Pho !  thou  art  noto- 
riously known  to  be  a  plotter.  Why  shouldst  thou 
be  angry  ?" 

"  Hombre  I  I  am  not  angry  now :  but,  methinks, 
Corcobado  hath  the  art  of  inflaming  whatever  is 


THE  INFIDEL.  33 

combustible  In  man's  body.  A  good  friend  were 
he  for  a  poor  man,  in  the  winter.  Why,  thou  bit- 
ter, misjudging,  remorseless,  male-shrew,  here  is 
my  hand,  in  token  I  will  not  maul  thee.  Why 
dost  thou  ever  persecute  me  with  thy  hints  1  By 
and  by,  men  will  come  to  believe  thou  art  in 
earnest.  What  dost  thou  see,  that  I  care  not  to 
have  exposed^  I  am  a  plotter  1  I  grant  ye;  so 
Cortes  hath  called  me  to  my  face  a  dozen  times,  or 
more.  I  am  a  grumbler  1  So  he  avers,  and  so  I 
allow.  I  must  speak  what  I  think ;  ay,  and  I  must 
growl,  too.  All  this  is  apparent,  but  it  harms  me 
not  with  the  general :  he  scolds  me  very  oft ;  but 
who  stands  better  in  his  favour  T" 

"  Thou  takest  the  matter  too  seriously,"  said 
Guzman.  "  Hast  thou  no  suspicion  that  thy  self- 
commendations  are  tedious  ?" 

"  In  such  case,  hadst  thou  ever  any  thyself?"  de- 
manded the  unrelenting  Najara.  "  Pray,  let  him  go 
on.  Let  him  draw  his  dagger,  if  he  will,  too. 
What  care  17  I  have  a  better  fence  than  the  de- 
cree." 

"  Pshaw,  man,"  said  Villafana,  "  why  dost  thou 
take  a  frown  so  bitterly  ?  I  will  not  quarrel  with 
thee.  But  I  would  thou  couldst  be  reasonable  in 
thy  fillips :  call  me  a  knave  openly,  if  thou  wilt ; 
thy  insinuations  have  the  air  of  seriousness.  But 
come ;  you  have  robbed  the  senor  Camarga  of  his 
diversion  with  Bernal.  Lo  you  now,  if  our 
wrangling  have  disturbed  him  a  jot !  He  sits  there, 
like  an  old  horse  of  a  summer's  day,  patient  and 
uncomplaining ;  and,  all  the  time,  there  are  gadfly 
thoughts  persecuting  his  imagination." 

"  Methinks,  senores,"  said  Camarga,  "  you  should 
be  curious  to  know  in  what  manner  the  good  man 
records  your  actions.  For  my  part,  I  should  be 
well  content  to  be  made  better  acquainted  with 
them ;  especially  with  those  later  exploits,  since 
the  retreat  from  Mexico,  of  which  I  have  heard 


34  THE  INFIDEL. 

only  confused  and  contradictory  accounts.     Will 
he  suffer  us  to  examine  his  chronicles  I" 

"  Suffer  us  !""  cried  Guzman  ;  "  if  you  do  but  give 
him  a  crrain  of  encouragement,  never  believe  me 
but  he  will  requite  you  with  pounds  of  his  stupidity. 
What,  have  you  any  curiosity .' — Harkee,  Bernal, 
man  ! — You  shall  see  how  I  will  rouse  him, — Ber- 
nal Diaz  !  Historian  !  Immortality  !  what  ho,  seiior 
Del  Castillo!  Are  you  asleep  1  Zounds,  sirrah, 
here  are  three  or  four  dull  fellows,  who,  for  lack  of 
better  amusement,  arc  willing  to  listen  to  your  his- 
tory." 


THE  INFIDEL.  35 


CHAPTER  11. 


At  these  words,  the  worthy  thus  appealed  to, 
woke  from  his  revery,  and  staring  a  moment  in 
some  little  perplexity  at  his  companions,  took  up  a 
long  copper-headed  spear,  which  rested  on  the 
ground  at  his  side,  and  advanced  towards  them. 
Viewed  at  a  little  distance,  the  gravity  of  his  coun- 
tenance gave  him  an  appearance  of  age,  which  va- 
nished on  a  nearer  inspection.  In  reality,  if  his 
own  recorded  account  can  be  believed,  (and  heaven 
forbid  we  should  attach  any  doubt  to  the  repre- 
sentations of  our  excellent  prototype,)  he  did  not 
number  above  twenty-six  or  twenty-seven  years, 
and  was  thus,  as  he  chose  to  call  himself,  '  a  strip- 
ling.* Young  as  he  was,  however,  there  was  not 
a  man  in  the  army  of  Cortes  who  had  seen  more, 
or  more  varied  service  than  Bernal  Diaz  del  Cas- 
tillo. His  exploits  in  the  New  World  had  com- 
menced seven  years  before,  among  the  burning  and 
pestilential  fens  of  Nombre  de  Dios, — a  place  made 
still  more  odious  to  an  aspiring  youth  by  the  fero- 
cious dissensions  of  its  inhabitants,  and  that  blood- 
thirsty jealousy  of  its  ruler,  which  had  rewarded 
with  the  block  the  man*  who  disclosed  to  Spain 
the  broad  expanse  of  the  Pacific,  and  led  his  subal- 
tern, Pizarro,  to  the  shores  of  Peru.  With  the  two 
adventurers,  Cordova  and  Grijalva,  who  had  pre- 
ceded Cortes  in  the  attempt  upon  the  lands  of  Mon- 
tezuma, (discovered  by  the  first,)  Bernal  Diaz 
shared  the  wounds  and  misadventures  of  both  ex- 

*  Vasco  Nunez  de  Bulboa. 


36  THE   INFIDEL. 

peditions  ;  and  he  was  aniono:  the  first  to  join  the 
standard  of  Don  Hornan,  in  the  third  and  most 
successful  of  the  Spanish  descents. 

The  hardships  he  had  endured,  the  constant  and 
unniitic-ated  sufrerinir  to  \vlii(>h  he  had  been  exposed 
for  seven  years,  had  pven  him  nuicli  of  the  wea- 
therbeaten  look  of  a  veteran,  which,  added  to  the 
sombre  ^rravit}'^  of  his  visaee,  caused  him  to  present, 
at  the  first  sight,  the  ajipearance  of  a  man  of  forty 
years  or  more.  His  garments  were  of  a  dusky  red 
cloth,  padded  into  escaujiil,  with  back  and  breast- 
pieces  of  iron,  over  whicii  was  a  long  cloak  of  a 
chocolate  colour,  well  embroidered,  and,  though 
much  worn  and  tarnished,  obviously  a  holiday  suit. 
To  these  were  added  a  black  velvet  hat,  ornament- 
ed with  three  flamingo  feathers,  striking  up  like 
the  points  of  a  trident,  with  the  medal  of  a  saint» 
rudely  wrought  in  gold,  hanging  beneath  them. 
His  person  w^as  brawny,  his  face  full  and  inex- 
pressive ;  his  dull  grey  eyes  indicated  nothing  but 
simplicity  and  absence  of  mind,  or  rather  inatten- 
tivcness  ;  and  it  required  the  presence  of  many 
scars  of  several  wounds  on  his  countenance,  to  con- 
vince a  stranger  that  Bernal  actually  possessed  the 
fortitude  to  encounter  such  badges  of  honoiu'. 

He  approached  the  group  with  a  heavy  and  in- 
dolent tread,  bearing  in  his  hand  a  bundle  of  leaves 
of  maguey  paper,  such  as  served  the  purposes  of 
the  native  painters  and  chroniclers  of  Anahuac,  and 
with  which  he  was  fain  to  supply  the  want  of  a 
better  material. 

"  Dost  thou  hear,  sefior  Inmortalidad  ]"  cried 
Don  Francisco  de  Guzman,  as  the  martial  annalist 
took  his  seat  serenely  among  the  Castilians  ;  "  art 
thou  deaf,  dumb,  or  still  wrapt  in  thy  seventh  hea- 
ven, that  thou  answerest  not  a  w^ord  to  my  saluta- 
tions ?  Zounds,  man,  I  will  not  ask  thee  a  second 
time." 


THE  INFIDEL.  37 

"  What  is  your  will  1"  said  Bernal  Diaz,  "  what 
will  you  have  of  me,  seiiores  1"  he  repeated,  sur- 
veying each  member  of  the  group,  one  after  the 
other.  "  I  did  think  that  this  being  a  day  of  license 
and  rejoicing  to  so  many  of  us,  I  might  have  an  op- 
portunity, not  often  in  my  power,  of  putting  down 
some  things  in  my  journal  which  it  will  be  well  to 
do,  before  setting  out  on  the  circuit  of  the  lake, 
wherein  there  may  happen  some  passages  to  drive 
from  my  memory  those  which  are  not  yet  recorded. 
But,  by  my  faith,  you  have  talked  loud  and  much, 
and  so  disturbed  my  mind,  that  I  have  entirely  lost 
some  things  I  intended  to  say.  I  would  to  heaven 
you  would  find  some  other  place  to  your  liking, 
and  leave  me  alone  for  a  few  hours." 

"  Why,  thou  infidel !"  said  Guzman,  "  if  thou 
likest  not  our  company,  why  dost  thou  not  leave 
it  ]  Dost  thou  forget  thou  hast  the  power  of  loco- 
motion] Wilt  thou  wait  for  us  to  depart  before 
thou  bethinkest  thee  of  thine  own  legsT  By'r  lady ! 
thou  art  not  yet  in  thy  senses !" 

"  By  my  faith,  so  I  can  !"  said  the  historian,  ab- 
ruptly, as  if  the  idea  had  just  entered  his  mind  : 
"  I  will  go  down  to  the  lake  shore,  where  the  sound 
of  the  waves  will  drown  your  voices.  There  is 
something  encouraging  to  contemplation  in  the 
dashing  of  water ;  but  as  for  men's  voices,  I  could 
never  think  well,  when  they  were  within  hearing. 
I  beg  your  pardon,  all,  seiiores  :  I  will  go  down." 

"What!  when  here  are  four  fools,  who  are  in 
the  humour  of  hstening  to  thee  for  some  seven 
minutes,  or  so  1  ay,  man,  to  thy  crazy  chronicles  ! 
When  wilt  thou  expect  such  another  audience] 
Lo  you,  the  senor  Camarga  has  desired  to  be 
made  acquainted  with  your  learned  lucubrations. 
Come,  stir ;  open  thy  lips,  exalt  thyself,  while  thou 
art  alive ;  for  after  death,  there  is  no  saying  how 
short  a  time  thou  wilt  sleep  in  cobwebs." 

"  You  jeer  me,  senor  Guzman;  you  laugh  at  me, 

VOL.  I.  4 


38  THE  INFIDEL. 

gentlemen,"  said  the  soldier,  gravely ;  "  and  thereby 
you  do  yourselves,  as  well  as  me,  much  wrong. 
Is  it  so  great  a  thing  for  a  soldier  to  write  a  his- 
tory 1  The  valiant  Julius  Ca?sar  of  Rome  record- 
ed, with  his  own  hand,  his  great  actions  in  France, 
Britain,  and  our  own  Castile,  as  1  know  full  well ; 
for  when  I  was  a  boy  at  school,  I  saw  the  very 
book ;  and  sorry  I  am  that  the  ]ioverty  of  my  pa- 
rents denied  mc  such  instruction,  as  might  have 
enabled  me  to  read  it.  Then,  there  was  Josephus, 
the  Jewish  Captain,  who  wrote  a  history  of  the  fall 
of  Jerusalem,  as  I  have  heard  from  a  learned  i)riest. 
Besides,  there  were  many  Greek  soldiers,  who  did 
the  same  thing,  as  I  have  been  told ;  but  I  never 
knew  much  concerning  them." 

"And  hast  thou  the  vanity  to  talk  of  Julius  Ca3- 
sar  ?"  cried  Guzman,  laughing. 

"Why  not?"  said  the  soldier,  stoutly;  "I  have 
fought  almost  as  many  battles,  and  I  warrant  me, 
my  heart  is  as  strong ;  and  were  it  my  fate  to  be  a 
general  and  commander,  instead  of  a  poor  soldier 
of  fortune  in  the  ranks,  I  could  myself,  as  well  as 
another,  lead  you  through  these  mischievous  Mexi- 
cans ;  who,  I  w^ill  be  sworn,  are  much  more  valiant 
heathens  than  ever  Caesar  found  among  the  French. 
As  far  as  he  was  a  soldier,  then,  I  boast  to  be  as 
good  a  man  as  he ;  ay,  by  mine  honour,  and  better 
too !  for  I  am  a  Christian  man,  w^hereas  he  was  a 
poor  benighted  infidel.  As  for  my  history,  I  will 
not  make  bold  to  compare  it  in  excellence  with  his ; 
for  it  has  been  told  me,  that  Caesar  was  a  scholar, 
and  possessed  of  the  graces  and  elegancies  of  style ; 
whereas,  I  have  myself  none  of  these  graces,  being 
ignorant  of  both  Latin  and  Greek,  and  knowing 
nothing,  of  any  tongues,  except  the  Castilian,  and 
some  smattering  of  this  Indian  jargon,  which  I  have 
picked  up  with  much  pains,  and,  as  1  may  say,  at 
the  expense  of  more  beating  than  one  gets  from  the 
schoolmaster.     Nevertheless,  I  flatter  myself,  that 


THE  INFIDEL.  39 

what  I  write  will  be  good,  because  it  will  be  true  ; 
for  this  which  I  am  writing,  is  not  a  history  of  dis- 
tant nations  or  of  past  events,  nor  is  it  composed  of 
vain  reveries  and  conjectures,  such  as  fill  the 
pages  of  one  who  writes  of  former  ages.  I  relate 
those  things  of  which  I  am  an  eye-witness,  and  not 
idle  reports  and  hearsay.  Truth  is  sacred  and 
very  valuable.  In  future  days,  when  men  come  to 
make  histories  of  our  acts  in  this  land,  their  histories 
will  be  good,  because  they  will  draw  them  from 
me,  and  not  from  those  vain  historiographers  who 
stay  at  home,  and  write  down  all  the  lies  that  peo- 
ple at  a  distance  may  say  of  us.  This  is  a  good 
thing,  and  will  make  my  book,  when  finished,  a 
treasury  to  men ;  but  what  is  better,  and  what 
should  make  it  noticeable  to  yourselves,  it  will  not, 
like  other  histories,  say,  '  The  great  hero  Cortes  did 
this,'  and  *  the  mighty  commander  did  that,'  giving 
all  the  -glory  to  one  man  alone ;  but  it  will  record 
our  achievements  in  such  a  way  as  to  show  who 
performed  them,  relating  that  '  this  thing  was  done 
by  the  Senor  Don  Francisco  de  Guzman,  and  this 
by  the  valiant  soldier  Najara,  and  this  by  myself, 
Bernal  Diaz  del  Castillo,'  and  so  on,  each  of  us  ac- 
cording to  our  acts."* 

"  What  the  worthy  Del  Castillo  says,  is  just," 
said  Camarga ;  "  and  whether  his  history  be  ele- 
gant or  unpolished,  he  should  be  encouraged  to 
continue  it.  For  my  own  part,  I  shall  be  glad 
when  I  have  performed  anything  worthy  to  be 
preserved,  to  know,  we  have  with  us  a  man  who 
will  see  that  the  credit  of  the  act  is  not  bestowed 
upon  another.  And,  in  this  frame  of  mind,  I  will 
stand  much  indebted  to  the  good  seiior,  if  he  will 
permit  me  at  once,  to  be  made  acquainted  with  the 

*  The  historical  reader  will  find  that  the  worthy  Bernal 
has  incorporated  many  of  these  judicious  sentiments  in  the 
work  he  was  then  composing,  and  some  almost  word  for 
word. 


40  THE  INFIDEL. 

tnie  relation  of  certain  events,  with  which  I  am  not 
yet  famiUar." 

"  What  will  you  have  ?"  said  Denial  Diaz,  much 
gratified  b}' this  proof  of  approbation.  "  You  shal 
hear  the  trutli,  and  no  vain  fabrication ;  for  I  cal 
heaven  to  witness,  and  I  say  Amen  to  it,  that  I  have 
related  nothing-  wliich,  being  an  eye-witness,  I  do 
not  know  to  be  true ;  or  which,  having  the  testi- 
mony of  many  others,  actors  and  lookers-on,  to  the 
same,  I  have  not  good  reason  to  believe,  is  true. 
What,  then,  will  you  have,  sefior  Camarga  1  Is 
there  any  particular  battle  you  choose  to  be  inform- 
ed of]  Perhaps,  I  had  better  begin  with  the  first 
chapter,  which  I  have  here,  written  out  in  full,  and 
which — " 

"  Fire !"  cried  Guzman,  starting  up,  "  will  you 
drive  us  away]  Zounds!  do  you  think  we  will 
swallow^  all  ]" 

"  Read  that  chapter,"  said  Najara,  "  in  which 
you  celebrate  the  exploits  of  the  senor  Guzman." 

"I  have  not,"  said  Diaz,  with  much  simplicity, 
"  I  have  not  yet  had  occasion  to  come  to  Don 
Francisco." 

"  Hear !"  cried  Villafana,  clapping  his  hands  with 
admiration,  in  which  the  cavalier,  after  looking  a 
little  indignant,  thought  fit  to  join. 

"  Unless  indeed,"  continued  the  historian,  "  I 
should  have  resolved  to  relate  the  quarrel  betwixt 
his  favour,  and  the  young  cornet  Lerma,  (whom 
may  heaven  take  to  its  rest ;  for  there  were  some 
good  things  in  the  young  man.)  But  as  to  this 
feud,  I  thought  it  better  for  the  honour  of  both, 
as  well  as  of  another,  whom  I  do  not  desire  to 
mention  with  dispraise,  that  the  matter  should  be 
forgotten." 

"  Put  it  down,  if  thou  wilt,"  said  Guzman,  with 
a  stern  aspect.  "  What  I  have  done,  I  have  done ; 
and  I  shame  not  to  have  it  spoken.  If  I  did  not 
kill  the  youth,  never  believe  me  if  it  was  not  out  of 


THE  INFIDEL.  41 

pity  for  his  years ;  and  out  of  regard  to  Cortes, 
with  whom  he  was  a  favourite." 

At  these  words,  which  were  deHvered  with  the 
greatest  gravity,  the  historian  raised  his  eyes  to 
Don  Francisco,  and  regarded  him,  for  a  moment, 
with  surprise.  Then  shaking  his  head,  and  mut- 
tering the  word  '  favourite,'  with  a  voice  of  incre- 
dulity, and  even  wonder,  he  held  his  peace,  with 
the  air  of  one  who  locks  up  in  his  breast  a  mys- 
tery, which  he  has  been  on  the  point  of  imprudently 
revealing. 

"A  favourite — I  repeat  the  word,"  exclaimed 
Don  Francisco,  with  angry  emphasis ;  "  a  favour- 
ite, at  least,  until  his  folly  and  baseness  were  made 
apparent  to  Cortes,  and  so  brought  him  to  dis- 
grace." 

"  Strong  words,  Don  Francisco  !"  said  Villafana, 
with  a  bold  tone  of  rebuke ;  "  and  somewhat  too 
strong  to  be  spoken  of  a  dead  enemy.  And  be- 
sides, without  referring  to  your  share  in  the  matter, 
there  are  those  in  this  army,  who  have  other 
thoughts  in  relation  to  the  lad.  It  has  been  whis- 
pered,— and  the  honour  of  Cortes  has  suffered 
thereby, — it  has  been  whispered " 

"  By  Villafana,"  exclaimed  the  hunchback,  ab- 
ruptly and  sharply ;  "  by  thyself,  certainly.  Sir  Al- 
guazil,  if  there  be  anything  in  it  against  the  credit 
of  the  general." 

"  Pshaw  !  wilt  thou  buffet  me  again  V  cried  Villa- 
fana, springing  up  and  stamping  on  the  earth, 
though  not  in  anger.  "  Dost  thou  know  now  what 
thou  art  like  ?" 

"  Like  a  thorn  in  the  foot,  which,  the  more  you 
stamp,  the  more  it  will  hurt." 

"  Rather  like  a  stupid  ball  tied  to  my  leg,"  said 
the  Alguazil,  "  which,  without  any  merit  of  its  own, 
serves  but  the  dead-weight  purpose  of  giving  me  a 
jerk,  turn  whichsoever  way  I  will." 

"  Right !"  cried  Najara,  with  a  sneer ;  "  you  have 

4* 


42  THE  INFIDEL. 

clapped  the  ball  to  the  right  leg.     We  do  not  so 
shot  honest  men." 

"Gentlemen,  with  your  leave,"  said  Camarga, 
willing  to  divert  the  storm,  which  it  seemed  Naja- 
ra's  delight  to  provoke  in  the  breast  of  the  Alguazil, 
"  with  your  leave,  seliores,  I  must  not  be  robbed 
of  my  cu)iosity.  It  was  my  purpose  to  ask  the 
seiior  del  Castillo  to  read  me  such  portions  of  his 
journal  as  treated,  first,  of  occurrences  that  hap- 
pened after  the  Noche  Triste,  and  battle  of  Otumba, 
and  then  of  the  history  and  fate  of  this  very  young 
man,  whose  name  is  so  efficacious  in  laying  you 
by  the  ears.  But  as  I  perceive  the  latter  subject  is 
hateful  to  you  all,  — ."  Here  he  turned  his  eyes  on 
Guzman. 

"  You  are  deceived,"  said  Don  Francisco,  drily. 
"  I  bear  the  young  man  no  malice :  the  wolf  and 
the  dog  may  roll  over  carcasses — I  have  no  anger 
for  bones.  He  slandered  me :  being  no  longer 
alive,  I  forgiv^e  him.  Ask  Bernal  what  you  will, 
and  let  him  answer  what  he  will :  I  swear  by  my 
troth,  I  care  not." 

"  What  needs  that  we  should  look  into  noisome 
caves,  when  we  have  green,  wholesome  lawns  be- 
fore us  ?"  said  Bernal  Diaz,  hesitating ;  for,  at  that 
moment,  the  eyes  of  all  except  Guzman,  were 
fastened  eagerly  on  his  own.  "I  could  speak  of 
the  quarrel,  to  be  sure,  between  his  favour  Don 
Francisco  and  the  young  colour-bearer ;  for  though, 
as  I  said,  and  for  the  reasons  stated,  I  have  not  put 
it  down  in  my  history,  yet  do  I  remember  it  very 
well.  But,  should  I  get  thus  far,  I  should  even 
persist  witli  the  whole  story ;  for,  I  know  not  how 
it  is,  I  never  begin  a  relation,  and  get  well  adv^anced 
in  the  same,  but  I  am  loath  to  leave  it,  till  I  have 
recounted  all." 

"  Ay,  I'll  be  sworn,  thou  art,"  said  Villafana : 
"  thy  stories  are  much  like  to  a  crane's  neck ;  'tis 


THE  INFIDEL.  43 

but  a  head  and  bill  at  first,  and  an  ell  or  two  of 
nothing  stretched  out  after." 

"  Nor  am  I  able,"  said  the  worthy  Bernal,  with- 
out stopping  to  digest  the  simile,  "  to  read  a  full  ac- 
count of  those  actions  the  senor  Camarga  speaks 
of,  which  took  place  subsequently  to  our  flight  from 
Mexico  and  our  great  victory  on  the  plains  of 
Otumba,  for  the  good  reason  that  I  have  not  yet 
composed  them  ;  the  failure  of  which  is,  in  a  great 
measure,  the  consequence  of  your  loud  talking  just 
now,  whilst  I  was  addressing  my  mind  to  the  same. 
But,  if  you  will  have  a  verbal  relation,  seiior  Ca- 
marga, I  will  do  my  best  to  pleasure  you,  and  that 
right  briefly,  and  in  true  words  ;  for  I  defy  any  man 
to  detect  falsehood  or  exaggeration  in  what  I 
write." 

"  Ay,  by'r  lady  !"  cried  Guzman,  who  had  reco- 
vered his  good-humour,  and  now  laughed  heartily, 
— "  in  what  you  ivrite,  honest  Bernal ;  but  in  what 
you  say,  you  are  not  so  infallible." 

"  You  would  not  let  me  finish  what  I  was  about 
to  say,"  murmured  the  historian. 

"  No,  faith ;  you  would  make  a  day's  work  of  it ; 
whereas  I,  who  am  no  wire-drawer  of  conceits,  can 
despatch  the  whole  thing  in  a  minute.  Do  you  not 
see  ]  the  rear  of  the  procession  is  in  sight :  in  half 
an  hour  we  shall  be  summoned  into  camp.  Be 
content  then,  scribbler;  I  quote  thy  words,  which 
should  be  honour  enough :  '  I  defy  any  man  to  dis- 
cover falsehood  or  exaggeration  in  what  I  say.* 
Know  then,  seiior  Camarga — after  our  victory  at 
Otumba,  nine  months  since,  we  retreated  to  Tlas- 
cala,  four  hundred  and  fifty  in  number,  at  which 
city  we  rested  five  months,  curing  our  wounds, 
recruiting  our  forces,  and  preparing  to  resume  the 
war.  During  this  time,  the  only  remarkable  inci- 
dents were, — first — the  meeting  of  those  goodly 
knaves  who  had  come  with  Narvaez,  sworn  faith 


44  TTIE   INTfDEL. 

to  Cortes,  looked  at  Mexico,  and  now,  being  satis- 
fied with  blows  and  honour,  dr-manded  to  be  sent 
back  to  Cuba,  to  the  great  injiny  and  almost  de- 
struction of  all  our  hopes.  Among  the  foremost  of 
these  turbulent  fellows,  was  our  friend  here,  Villa- 
fana ;  wIki,  althougli  he  came  not  with  Narvaez, 
but  was  sent  soon  after  us  by  Velasquez,  was  ever 
found  consorting  with  the  disaffected,  until  his  good 
saint,  in  some  dream  of  tlie  gallows,  brought  better 
thoughts  into  his  mind,  and  converted  him  from  an 
open  enemy  into  a  doubtful  friend.  Peace,  Villa- 
fana  !  I  am  now  playing  the  historian,  and  must 
therefore  tell  what  I  believe  to  be  the  truth." 

At  these  words,  Villafana,  who  had  opened  his 
mouth  to  speak,  checked  the  impulse,  nodded, 
laughed,  and  composed  himself  to  silence, 

*'  The  defection  of  these  men,"  resumed  the  cava- 
lier, "  and  the  reduction  of  our  numbers  that  fol- 
lowed, (for  we  were  e'en  forced  to  discharge  the 
more  importunate  of  them,)  were  requited  to  us  by 
happy  reinforcements  of  men,  horses,  and  arms ; 
some  of  them  sent  by  the  foolish  Velasquez — " 

"  Seiior  Guzman,"  said  Bernal  Diaz,  "  the  Gover- 
nor Velasquez  is  my  relation.  My  father  was  an 
hidalgo,  and  his  wife,  my  mother — " 

"  Oh,  I  forgot !"  said  Guzman,  nodding  to  the  his- 
torian : — "  Some  sent  by  the  sagacioKS  Velasquez 
to  his  captain,  Narvaez,  who  was  in  chains  at  Villa 
Rica ;  some  by  De  Garay,  Adelantado  of  Jamaica, 
to  rob  us  of  our  northern  province,  Panuco, — and 
it  is  supposed  that  thou,  seiior  Camarga,  with  thy 
crew  of  sick  men,  though  thou  comest  so  late,  and 
apparently  of  thine  own  good  will,  wert  equipt  by 
the  same  inconsiderate  commander  ;  and  some  by 
the  merchants  of  the  Canaries  and  of  Seville,  to  be 
exchanged  for  our  superfluous  spoils,  which  were 
not  then  gathered ; — no,  by'r  lady,  nor  yet,  either. 
In  fine,  we  became  strong  enough,  by  these  means, 
to  recruit  our  forces  among  the  natives  of  the  land  ; 


THE  INFIDEL.  45 

which  we  did,  by  attacking  divers  provinces  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Tlascala,  and  compelling  their 
warriors  to  join  our  standard,  along  with  the  Tlas- 
calans,  who  were  willing  enough, — all  save  their 
generalissimo,  Xicotencal.  Thus,  then,  with  no 
mean  force  of  Spaniards,  and  with  several  armies 
of  Indian  confederates,  we  came,  'tis  now  more 
than  three  months  since,  to  yonder  city,  Tezcuco, 
and  raised  to  the  throne,  (in  place  of  his  brother, 
who  fled  to  Mexico,)  a  king  of  our  own  choosing ; 
of  whom  I  have  the  honour  to  be  chief  counsellor 
and  minister,  that  is  to  say,  guardian,  regent, 
sponsor,  or  master,  as  you  may  think  fit  to  esteem 
me.  Here,  it  has  been  our  good  fortune  to  receive 
other  and  stronger  reinforcements,  and,  as  Villafa- 
na  said,  from  the  king's  own  royal  bounty,  with 
commissions  and  orders,  priests  and  crown-ofl^icers, 
and  so  on ;  which  circumstances  have  caused  our 
army  to  be  reorganized,  the  whole  reduced  to  a 
stricter  discipline,  and  civil  officers  to  be  appointed, 
for  the  better  enforcing  of  martial  law.  Here,  too, 
we  have  been  preparing  for  the  siege  and  blockade 
of  yonder  accursed  metropolis,  by  bringing  ships, 
(they  are  on  the  shoulders  of  these  crawhng  pa- 
gans,) to  give  us  the  command  of  the  lake ;  and  by 
attacking  and  destroying  the  neighbouring  towns, 
so  as  to  secure  possession  of  the  shores.  In  the 
meanwhile,  the  young  cub  of  an  Emperor,  Guati- 
mozin,  who  has  succeeded  Cuitlahuatzin,  the  suc- 
cessor of  Montezuma,  has  been  equally  busy  in 
concentrating  the  warriors  of  all  his  faithful  pro- 
vinces in  the  island,  and  providing  vast  stores  of 
corn  and  meat,  for  their  subsistence, — as  resolute 
to  resist  as  we  are  to  assail.  The  materials  for 
our  vessels  being  arrived,  it  is  now  known,  that 
the  time  of  constructing  and  lanching  them,  will 
be  devoted  to  an  expedition,  led  by  Cortes  himself; 
in  which  we  will  make  the  circuit  of  the  whole 
lake,  destroying  the  rebellious  cities  on  the  main, 


46  THE   IXFrJEL. 

and  driving  to  the  island  all  who  may  think  fit  to  re- 
sist. When  they  are  thus  caged,  we  shall  have  them 
like  pigeons  in  a  net ;  and  good  plucking  there  will 
be  in  store  for  all. — This  is  my  history,  and  me- 
thinks  it  should  satisfy  you." 

"  It  wants  nothing  to  be  complete  save  the  epi- 
sode of  the  Cornet  Lerma,"  said  Villafana,  with  a 
malicious  grin ;  "  and,  in  reqiutal  for  the  good  turn 
you  have  done  me,  when  speaking  of  the  mutiny 
Tlascala,  I  will  relate  it, — ay,  by  St.  James,  I  will ! 
frown  and  storm  as  you  may.  The  seilor  Ca- 
marga  has  avowed  his  curiosity  in  the  matter.  Our 
dull  Bernal,  who  is  so  frequent  at  boasting  he  tells 
naught  but  truth,  has  confessed  that  he  dares  not 
tell  «//  the  truth  ;  which,  I  think,  will  be  somewhat 
of  a  qualification  to  the  belief  of  his  future  admirers. 
Najara,  here,  will  say  naught  of  any  one  but  my- 
self, and  that  with  a  crusty  and  bitter  obstinacy, — 
wherein  he  seems  to  me  to  resemble  a  silly  ox,  who 
rubs  his  stupid  head  against  a  tree,  much  less  to 
the  prejudice  of  the  bark  than  his  skin.  And  as  for 
thyself,  senor  Don  Francisco,  thou  hast  but  thine 
own  fashion  of  telling  the  story.  But  I  told  thee 
before,  there  are  those  in  the  army  who  have  ano- 
ther way  of  thinking;  and  I  am  one — I  will  not 
boggle  at  a  truth,  like  Diaz,  because  it  is  somewhat 
discreditable  to  Cortes,  or  to  a  chief  officer." 

"  Speak  then,"  said  Guzman,  gravely ;  "  I  have 
said  already  I  care  not.  I  know  full  well  how  your 
knavish  companions  belie  me.  I  say  again,  I  care 
not.  What  you  aver  as  your  own  belief,  T  will 
make  free  to  hold  in  consideration  :  for  the  leported 
imputations  of  others,  I  release  you  from  responsi- 
bility." 

"  Oh,  I  speak  not  on  rny  own  knowledge,  nor  of 
my  own  personal  belief,"  said  Villafana,  "  and  there- 
fore, (but  more  especially  in  consequence  of  the  de- 
cree, sefior,  the  decree  ! — we  will  not  forget  the 
decree,)  I  shall  fear  neither  dagger  nor  black  looks. 


THE  INFIDEL.  47 

You  called  Lerma  a  '  favourite'  of  the  general :  pha ! 
even  Bernal  smiled  at  that !" 

*'  What  I  have  said  in  that  matter,"  replied  Guz- 
man, with  composure,  "  I  will  condescend  to  sup- 
port with  argument.  The  young  man  was  received 
into  the  household  of  Cortes,  while  Cortes  was  yet 
a  planter  of  Santiago :  he  picked  him  up,  heaven 
knows  where,  how,  or  why,  a  poor,  vagabond  boy. 
It  is  notorious  to  all,  that,  in  those  days,  Don  Her- 
nan  employed  him  less  as  a  servant  than  as  a  son, 
or  younger  brother,  and  as  such,  bestowed  upon 
him  affection  and  confidence,  as  well  as  the  truest 
protection.  Thou  knowest,  and  if  thou  art  not  an 
infidel  altogether,  thou  wilt  allow,  that  the  sword- 
cut  on  the  general's  left  hand  was  obtained  in  a 
duel  which  he  fought  with  a  man,  ('twas  the  seiior 
Bocasucia,)  who  had  thrown  some  sarcasm  on  the 
youth's  birth,  and  then  ran  him  through  the  body, 
when  he  sought  for  satisfaction." 

"  I  allow  all  this,"  said  Villafana  ;  "  I  confess  the 
youth  was  an  ass,  to  match  his  boy's  blade  against 
the  weapon  of  the  best  swordsman  in  the  island; 
and  I  agree  that  it  was  both  noble  and  truly  affec- 
tionate in  Cortes,  to  take  up  the  quarrel,  and  so 
baste  the  bones  of  Bocasucia,  that  he  will  remem- 
ber the  correction  to  his  dying  day.  I  allow  all 
this ;  and  I  add  to  it  the  greater  proof  of  Don  Her- 
nan's  love  for  the  youth,  that  when  Velasquez 
granted  him  his  commission  to  subdue  these  lands, 
(I  would  the  sea  had  swallowed  them,  some  good 
ten  years  since!)  the  captain  did  forthwith  entrust 
to  the  boy  the  honourable  and  distinguished  duty 
of  recruiting  soldiers  for  him,  in  Espanola,  in  which 
island  he  was  born." 

"  Ay,"  quoth  Guzman,  dryly,  "  and  one  may  find 
cause  for  the  general's  anger,  in  the  diligence  with 
which  the  urchin  prosecuted  his  task,  and  the  suc- 
cess that  crowned  it." 

"  By  my  faith,"  said  Bernal  Diaz,   unable  any 


48  THE   INFIPEL. 

longer  to  restrain  liis  desire  to  take  part  in  a  dis- 
cussion of  such  historical  moment,  "  the  young  man 
sped  well ;  and  that  he  came  to  us  empty-handed 
was  no  cause  of  Don  Hernan's  displeasure,  as  I 
have  heard  Don  Hernan  say.  It  was,  in  the  first 
place,  our  liaste  to  embark,  when  we  discovered 
that  the  governor  was  about  to  revoke  our  cap- 
tain's commission,  that  caused  Lerma  to  be  left  be- 
hind us  ;  and,  secondly,  it  was  the  governor's  own 
act,  that  Lerma  was  not  permitted  to  follow  us,  with 
the  forces  he  had  raised  and  brought  as  far  as  San- 
tiago. It  is  well  known,  that  these  men  were  ar- 
rested on  their  course,  and  disbanded  by  Velas- 
quez,— for  some  of  them  came  afterwards  with 
Narvaez,  and  have  so  reported.  Tlie  youth  was 
thrown  into  prison,  too,  where  he  fell  sick, — for  he 
had  never  entirely  recovered  from  the  effects  of  his 
wound, — and  it  required  all  the  exertions  of  Dona 
Catalina,  our  leader's  wife,  backed  by  those  of  her 
friends,  to  procure  his  release.  His  fidelity  was 
afterwards  shown  in  his  escape  from  Cuba,  which 
was  truly  wonderful,  both  in  boldness  q^  concep- 
tion and  success  of  accomplishment." 

"  His  fidelity  truly,  and  his  folly,  too,"  said  Villa- 
fana ;  "  for,  1  think,  no  one  but  a  confirmed  mad- 
man could  have  projected  and  undertaken  a  voyage 
across  the  gulf,  in  an  open  fitstOy*  (by'r  lady  !  I 
have  heard  'twas  nothing  better  than  a  piragua,) 
with  a  few  beggarly  Indian  fishermen  for  his  crew. 
But  this  he  did,  mad  or  not ;  and  if  Cortes  were 
angry,  he  took  but  an  ill  way  to  punish,  since  he 
gave  him  a  horse  and  standard,  and  kept  him,  for 
a  long  time,  near  to  his  own  person.  His  favourite 
for  a  time,  I  grant  you  he  may  have  been,  having 
heard  it  so  related ;  but  when  I  myself  came  to  the 
land,  there  were  others  much  better  beloved." 


*  Fusta — a  sort  of  galley,  very  small  and  open,  with 
lateen  sails. 


THE  INFIDEL.  49 

"  If  I  am  not  mistaken,"  said  Don  Francisco,  "  he 
was  in  favour  at  that  time ;  and  I  have  heard  it 
affirmed  it  was  some  news  of  thy  bringing,  or  some 
good  counsel  of  thy  speaking,  which  first  opened 
the  eyes  of  Cortes."  -     •' 

"  /,  indeed ! — my  news,  and  my  counsel !"  cried 
Villafana,  with  a  grin.  "  I  was  more  like,  at  that 
period,  to  get  to  the  bastinado  than  the  ears  of  Don 
Hernan.  I,  indeed! — I  loved  not  the  young  man, 
I  confess  ;  and  who  did  ]  He  had  even  the  fate  of 
a  fallen  minion  ;  all  spoke  of  him  with  dispraise, — 
all  hated  him,  or  seemed  to  hate  him,  save  only  the 
Tlascalan  chief,  Xicotencal,  who  loved  him  out  of 
opposition ;  and  I  remember  a  saying  of  this  very 
crabbed  Corcobado,  here,  on  the  subject,  namely, 
that  a  hedgehog  was  the  best  fellow  for  a  viper." 

"  Ay,  by  my  faith,"  said  Najara ;  "  yet  I  meant 
not  Xicotencal  for  the  animal,  but  a  worthy  Chris- 
tian cavalier ;  who  was,  at  that  time,  rolling  the 
snake  out  of  his  dwelling."  As  Najara  spoke,  he 
fixed  his  eyes  on  Guzman. 

"  I  understand  thee,  toad,"  said  the  latter,  indif- 
ferently. "  It  was  natural,  the  young  man  should 
be  somewhat  jealous.  But  this  leads  us  from  the 
story.  If  it  be  needful  to  find  a  reason  for  Don 
Hernan's  change,  I  can  myself  give  a  thousand.  In 
the  first  place,  mere  human  fickleness  might  be 
enough,  for  no  man  is  master  of  his  affections. 
It  might  be  enough  too,  to  know,  that  the  youth  was 
no  longer  the  gay  and  good-humoured  lad  he  had 
been  described,  but  a  sour,  gloomy,  and  peevish 
fool,  exceedingly  disagreeable  and  quarrelsome  ; 
and,  perhaps,  it  might  be  more  than  enough,  to  re- 
mind you,  that,  as  was  currently  believed,  this 
change  of  temper  was  the  consequence  of  certain 
villanous  acts,  committed  after  our  departure,  and 
which  were  thought  to  furnish  a  better  and  more 
probable  reason  for  the  voyage  in  the  fusta  than 
any  particular  zeal  he  had  in  the  cause  of  Cortes. 

VOL.  I.  5 


50  THE  INFIDEL. 

If  this  be  not  enough,"  continued  the  cavalier,  look- 
ing round  him  with  the  air  of  one  who  feels  that 
his  arguments  are  conclusive,  "  then  I  have  but 
to  mention  what  you  seem  to  have  forgotten, 
— to  wit,  that  this  petulant  and  meddlesome 
boy  did  presume  to  make  oj^position  to,  and  veiy 
arrogantly  censure,  certain  acti(^ns  of  the  general ; 
and,  in  particular,  the  seizure  and  imprisonment 
of  king  Montezuma,  and  the  burning  alive  of  the 
Cholulan  jirisoners,  as  well  as  the  seventeen  war- 
riors, who  had  fought  the  battle  with  Escalante,  at 
Vera  Cruz." — In  the  last  of  these  instances,  Don 
Francisco  made  reference  to  the  barbarous  and  most 
unjust  punishment  of  Q,uauhpopoco, — the  military 
governor  of  a  Mexican  province  near  to  Vera  Cruz, 
— and  of  his  chief  officers,  who  had  presumed  to 
resist  with  arms,  and  with  fatal  success,  the  Span- 
ish commandant  of  the  coast,  in  an  unjustifiable 
attack. 

"  All  this  is  true,"  said  Villafana,  "  and  it  is  all 
superfluous.  What  I  desired  to  establish  was,  that 
Lerma  was  no  favourite,  when  sent  on  the  expedi- 
tion, as  would  have  been  inferred  from  your  words. 
I  come  now,  seiior  Camarga,  to  speak  of  that  oc- 
currence in  relation  to  this  boy,  Juan  Lerma,  (I 
call  him  a  boy,  for,  at  that  time,  he  was  not  thought 
to  exceed  nineteen  years  of  age,)  which,  as  Bernal 
Diaz  says,  touches  the  honour  of  Don  Hernan,  and 
which,  others  think,  bears  as  heavily  upon  that  of 
Don  Francisco.  The  senores  must  answer  for 
themselves:  I  only  give  what  is  one  version  of  the 
story." 

"  And,  I  warrant  thee,  it  is  the  worst,"  said  Na- 
jara.  "Thou  hast  very  much  the  appetite  of  a 
gallinaza,  who  chooses  her  meat  according  to  the 
roughness  of  the  savour." 

"  Among  the  daughters  of  the  captive  Montezu- 
ma," said  Villafana,  nodding  to  the  hunchback,  in 
testimony  of  approbation,  "  was  one,  the  youngest 


THE  INFIDEL.  51 

of  all,  and,  in  truth,  the  prettiest,  as  I  have  heard, 
for  I  never  beheld  her,  who  was  called  Cillahula, — " 

"  Zelahualla,""  said  Bernal  Diaz.  "  It  is  a  word 
that  signifies — " 

"  It  signifies  nothing,  so  long  as  you  give  it  not 
the  proper  accent,"  said  Guzman,  with  infinite 
composure.  "  Her  true  name  was  Citlaltihuatl ; 
or,  at  least,  it  was  by  that  the  Mexicans  designated 
her ;  for  they  of  the  royal  family  have,  ordinarily, 
a  popular  title,  in  addition  to  that  used  at  court. 
The  name  may  be  interpreted  the  Maiden  of  the 
Star,  or  the  Celestial  Lady ;  for  so  much  is  ex- 
pressed by  the  two  words  of  which  it  is  com- 
pounded." 

"  I  maintain,"  said  Bernal  Diaz,  stoutly,  "  that 
the  word  Zelahualla  is  more  agreeable  of  pronun- 
ciation, as  well  as  much  more  universal  in  the 
army." 

"  I  grant  you  that,"  said  Guzman.  "  Nor  is  the 
corruption  so  great  as  that  of  many  names  you 
have  recorded  in  your  journal :  but  I  leave  these 
things  to  be  examined  by  your  admirers  hereafter. 
We  will  call  the  princess,  then,  Zelahualla ;  that 
being  the  better  and  more  common  title. — And  now, 
Villafana,  man,  get  thee  on,  in  God's  name;  and 
start  not,  seiior  Camarga,  at  the  damnable  inven- 
tions of  slander,  which  will  now  be  told  you." 

"  Pho  !"  said  the  Alguazil,  "  I  will  not  abuse  thee 
half  so  much  as  the  General.  Know,  senor  Camar- 
ga, that  there  arose,  between  the  young  fool  Lerma 
and  the  excellent  cavalier  Don  Francisco  de  Guz- 
man, a  quarrel,  very  hot  and  deadly,  concerning 
this  same  silly  daughter  of  Montezuma;  with  whom 
Don  Francisco  chose  to  be  somewhat  rougher  and 
more  tyrannical,  in  displaying  his  affection,  than 
was  proper  towards  a  king's  daughter  and  a  cap- 
tive." 

"  Dost  thou  speak  this  upon  thine  own  personal 
averment  ?"  demanded  Don  Francisco,  with  a  coun- 


52  THE   INFIDEL. 

tenanco  iinclinncfed,  hut  witli  a  voire  protornaturally 
subdued. 

"No,  faitli,"  said  Villafaua,  liastily,  and  with  an 
air  that  looked  hke  akirm ;  "I  repeat  the  innuen- 
does of  others,  whieh  may  be  slanders  or  not, — I 
know  not.  liut  it  is  certain,  the  younir  man  so 
charged  tlice  to  Cortes;  aftirminrj  that,  but  for  his 
interference,  the  villany  meditated — But,  pho  !  thou 
growest  angry  !  So  much,  certainly,  he  brought 
against  thee  ]" 

"  He  did,"  replied  Guzman,  smiling  as  if  in  deri- 
sion ;  "  and  I  know  not  how  any  could  have  been 
induced  to  believe  him,  except  that  man, — each 
man, — being  naturally  a  rogue  himself,  doth  rather 
delight  to  entertain  those  aspersions  which  bring 
down  his  neighbour  to  his  own  level,  than  the  com- 
mendations w'hich  acquaint  him  with  a  superior. 
He  did ! — He  was  a  fool !  I  can  explain  this  thing 
to  your  satisfaction." 

"  Ba.sta !  it  does  not  need,"  replied  Villafana. 
"  The  rear-guard  is  passing, — there  is  a  stir  on  the 
temple-top,  and  presently  we  shall  hear  the  trumpet, 
which,  like  a  curfew-bell,  will  command  us  to 
put  out  the  fires  of  our  fancy  and  the  lights  of  our 
wit,  on  pain  of  having  them,  somewhat  of  a  sudden, 
■whipped  out  with  switches.  I  must  tell  mine  own 
story ;  the  seiior  Camarga  looks  a  little  impatient. 
The  end  of  this  quarrel,"  continued  the  Alguazil, 
"was  a  duel ;  in  which  neither  of  the  rivals  in  love 
and  the  general's  favour,  came  to  much  hurt ;  since 
they  were  speedily  seized  ujion  and  introduced  to 
the  Calabozo,  for  lighting  against  the  express  orders 
of  the  general.  Then,  being  released,  they  were 
separated, — our  excellent  friend  13on  Francisco 
being  sent  on  some  duty  to  Tlascala,  and  the  boy 
Juan  to — heaven." 

"  Saints  !"  exclaimed  Camarga  ;  "  he  was  not 
executed  ?" 

"  Not  on  the  block  or  the  gallows,  to  be  sure/* 


THE  INPIDEL.  53 

said  Villafana ;  "  but  in  a  manner  quite  as  effectual. 
He  was  sent  on  some  fool's  errand  of  discovery, 
or  exploration,  to  the  South  Sea,  which,  it  was  told 
us,  washed  the  distant  borders  of  this  mighty  em- 
pire ; — his  companions,  two  unlucky  dogs  of  La 
Mancha,  and  one  Leoneseof  Medina-del-Campo, — " 

"  Ay,"  said  Bernal  Diaz,  with  a  groan, — "  Gaspar 
Olea ;  he  was  my  beloved  friend  and  townsman, 
and — "  But  Villafana  was  in  no  humour  to  be 
interrupted : 

"  All  three,  like  himself,  out  of  favour,"  he  conti- 
nued. "  Besides  these,  the  young  man  had  with 
him  a  band  of  knavish  infidels,  from  the  western 
province  Matlatzinco  ;  and  his  guide  and  counsellor 
was  an  old  chief  of  the  Ottomies — a  half-savage, 
(they  called  him  Ocelotl  or  Ocelotzin,  that  is,  the 
Tiger,)  who  had  been  domesticated  among  Monte- 
zuma's other  wild  beasts.  Now,  seiior,  you  may 
make  your  own  conclusions,  or  you  may  take  those 
of  men  who  are  true  friends  of  Cortes,  and  yet  will 
speak  their  mind.  It  was  said,  at  the  time,  that  the 
young  man  was  sent  to  his  death ;  for  the  western 
tribes  are  fierce  and  barbarous  ;  it  was  an  easy 
way  to  get  rid  of  him — and  so  it  has  been  proved. 
This  happened  fourteen  months  ago :  neither  the 
young  man,  nor  any  of  his  companions,  were  ever 
heard  of  more.  The  thing  was  understood,  and  it 
was  called  a  cruel  and  unchristian  act." 

"  Thou  doest  a  foul  wrong  to  Cortes,  to  say  so," 
exclaimed  Don  Francisco,  "  imputing  to  him  such 
sinister  and  perfidious  motives.  Such  expeditions 
were  at  that  time  common ;  for  we  were  then  at 
peace,  and  each  explorer  was  furnished  by  Monte- 
zuma with  some  royal  officer  by  way  of  safe-con- 
duct. Did  not  Don  Hernan  send  his  cousin,  the 
young  Pizarro,  to  explore  the  gold-lands  of  Guazte- 
pec,  at  that  very  time  ]  Were  not  others  sent  to 
search  for  mines,  in  the  southern  and  northern  pro- 
vinces ?  I  affirm,  that  this  expedition  of  Lerma,  fatal 

5* 


54  THE   INFIDEL. 

though  it  lias  proved,  was  not  thought  more,  or 
iniich  more  dangerous  than  Pizarro's : — thou  know- 
est,  Pizarro  lost  three  of  his  men. — Moreover,  thou 
doest  the  general  an  equal  wrong,  in  the  matter  of 
the  three  Spaniards,  that  went  with  Lerma.  Olea, 
at  least, — Caspar  Olea,  the  Barba-Roxa — was  no 
toriously  a  favourite  and  trusted  soldier,  and  was 
sent  with  tlie  youth,  as  being  the  fittest  man  who 
could  be  spared,  to  aid  his  inexperience." 

"The  history  is  finished,"  said  Villafana,  rising ; 
'*  the  trumpet  flourishes  ;  and,  like  hounds  at  tiie 
horn  of  the  hunter,  we  must  e'en  get  us  to  the 
genera],  and  add  our  howls  to  the  yells  of  these 
curs  of  Tlascala.  The  history  is  finished  ;  and  I 
have  only  to  add,  by  way  of  annotation,  that  the 
hatred  you  bore  the  youth,  (I  liave  heard  some  say, 
he  had  the  better  in  the  duel  !)  will  sujiply  you  good 
reasons  for  defending  his  punishment." 

"  I  say  to  you  again,"  cried  Guzman,  "  I  have 
forgiven  the  youth,  and  I  hate  him  not." 

"  Oh  !  the  brown  horse,  Bobadil,  tiiat  was  sent 
to  him  from  Santo  Domingo,  a  month  since,  and 
given  to  your  own  excellent  favour,  as  to  his  pro- 
per heir,  is  a  good  peace-maker  !" 

"  Thou  art  a  fool,"  said  Don  Francisco ;  "  I  la- 
ment his  death  as  much  as  another." 

"  Have  masses  then  said  for  his  soul,  for,  by 
heaven  and  St.  John,  his  spirit  is  among  us  !" 

These  w^ords,  })ronounced  by  the  hunchback, 
Najara,  suddenly,  and  with  a  voice  of  extreme 
alarm,  caused  the  cavalier,  who,  with  Villafana  and 
Camarga,  had  already  begun  to  walk  towards  the 
city,  to  turn  round ;  when  he  instantly  beheld,  and 
with  similar  agitation,  the  apparition  which  had 
drawn  forth  the  exclamation  of  the  deformed. 


^ 


THE  INFIDEL.  55 


CHAPTER  111. 


As  the  Castilians  followed  the  eyes  of  Najara, 
they  beheld,  approaching  them  from  behind,  three 
men,  in  whom,  but  for  the  direction  given  to  their 
thoughts  by  the  exclamation,  they  would  have  seen 
nothing  but  the  persons  of  Indians,  belonging  to 
some  tribe  more  wild  and  savage  than  any  which 
inhabited  the  valley.  Their  garments  were  coarse 
and  singular ;  their  gait — at  least,  the  gait  of  tw^o 
of  them,. — not  unlike  to  that  of  barbarians  ;  and  the 
look  of  w^onder  with  which  they  surveyed  the  long 
train  of  the  rear-guard,  in  which  the  high  penachos, 
or  plumes,  and  the  copper-headed  spears  of  Tlasca- 
lan  chiefs,  shone  among  the  iron  casques  of  Spanish 
cavaliers,  was  similar  to  the  childish  admiration  of 
natives,  unused  to  such  a  spectacle.  Their  dark 
countenances  and  long  hair,  their  vestments  and 
arms,  were  all  of  an  Aztec  character  ;  yet  a  second 
and  more  scrutinizing  glance  made  it  apparent, 
that  one,  at  least,  if  not  two  of  them,  was  of  ano- 
ther and  nobler  race. 

The  foremost,  or  leader,  of  the  little  band,  was 
undoubtedly  a  savage ;  as  was  seen  by  the  de- 
pressed forehead,  the  high  cheek-bones,  the  eye  of 
a  peculiar  form,  and  the  skin  of  even  uncommon 
swarthiness,  which  distinguished  him  from  his  com- 
panions. His  stature  was  short,  almost  dwarfish ; 
his  toes  were  turned  inwards  ;  and  as  he  moved 
along  with  a  shuffling  gait,  with  advanced  chest, 
and  head  still  more  protruded,  his  long  locks,  griz- 
zled as  with  extreme  age,  fell  from  either  side  of 


56  THE   INFinEL. 

his  fare,  like  patclies  of  sfray  moss  from  tlie  bougli 
of  a  tree,  and  almost  swept  tlie  crcnmcl.  A  coarse 
cloth  was  wrapi">ed  round  his  loins ;  another  of  a 
square  shape, — its  opjiosite  corners  tied  round  his 
neck, — huiifr  like  a  mantle,  or  rather  a  shawl,  from 
his  shoulders,  over  which  were  also  strapped  a  bow 
and  quiver  of  arrows  ;  and  a  thick  mat  of  cane- 
work  was  secured  by  thongs  to  his  left  arm,  in  the 
manner  of  a  buckler,  and  swung  at  his  side,  or  was 
laid  ui)()n  his  breast,  as  suited  his  mood  or  conve- 
nience. In  other  respects,  he  was  naked, — though 
not  without  the  native  battle-axe  of  obsidian.  This 
weapon  consisted  of  a  rod,  or  bludgeon,  of  heavy 
wood,  (it  was  sometimes  of  copper,)  at  the  extremi- 
ty of  which,  and  on  either  side,  were  fastened  six 
or  seven  broad  blades,  or  flakes,  of  volcanic  glass, 
standing  a  litt]<:!  apart  from  each  other.  Its  native 
name,  maquahuitl^  was  speedily  corrupted  by  the 
Spaniards  into  rnacana, — a  name  that  is  applied,  in 
Castile,  to  a  sabre  of  lath ;  and  wiiich,  being  more 
practicable  to  civilized  organs  of  speech  than  the 
original  title,  is  worthy  of  being  preserved.  The 
appearance  of  this  aged  warrior  presented  none  of 
the  infirmities  of  years.  His  stooping  carriage  was 
rather  the  result  of  habit  than  feebleness ;  his  step 
was  quick  and  firm,  though  ungainly ;  and  his  eye 
rolled  with  the  piercing  vivacity  of  youth  over  the 
scene,  which  occupied  so  much  of  the  attention  of 
his  followers. 

Of  these,  that  one  whom  the  Castilians  at  the 
cypress-tree  hesitated,  for  a  moment,  whether  to 
esteem  an  Indian  or  a  Christian  man,  was  of  a 
figure  more  remarkable  for  sturdiness  than  ele- 
gance. The  roll  of  cloth  round  his  ])ody  extended 
from  his  waist,  where  it  was  secured  by  a  leathern 
girdle,  to  his  knees.  The  mantle  about  his  shoul- 
ders was  more  capacious  than  his  fellow's,  but  it 
left  his  brawny  chest  in  part  exposed,  and  thereby 
revealed  a  skin  fairer  than  belonged  to  the  natives 


THE  INFIDEL.  67 

of  Anahuac.  His  hair,  though  very  long,  was  of  a 
reddish-brown  colour,  and  waving  rather  than 
straight ;  and  a  rough  beard  of  a  ruddy  hue,  though 
so  short  that  its  growth  seemed  to  have  been 
permitted  for  not  more  than  the  space  of  a  week, 
was  another  phenomenon  not  to  be  looked  for  in  a 
barbarian.  But  the  indications  of  civilized  origin 
offered  by  these  characteristics,  were  set  at  naught 
by  the  step  and  bearing  of  the  stranger,  which 
were  to  the  full  as  wild  and  peculiar  as  those  of  his 
more  ancient  companion ;  like  whom,  he  carried  a 
buckler  and  macana,  though  without  the  bow  and 
quiver.  His  eye  rolled  with  a  like  wildness ;  but 
his  features  were  European ;  and  instead  of  being 
entirely  barefoot,  like  the  senior,  his  feet  were  de- 
fended by  stout  sandals  of  untanned  skin. 

The  third,  and  by  far  the  most  remarkable  of  all, 
was  he  who  had  first  caught  the  eye  of  Najara, 
and  upon  whom  was  now  concentrated  the  gaze 
of  the  whole  party.  A  figure  of  the  most  majestic 
height,  and  noble  proportions,  though,  at  the  pre- 
sent moment,  greatly  wasted,  was  rather  set  off  to 
advantage  than  concealed  by  a  costume  as  spare 
and  primitive  as  that  of  the  red-bearded  man.  His 
skin  was  much  tawnier  than  his  companion's ;  in- 
deed, it  was  of  the  darkest  hue  known  among  the 
southern  provinces  of  Spain  and  Portugal,  where 
the  blood  of  Europe  has  mingled  harmoniously  with 
the  life-tides  of  Africa.  His  lofty  stature  was  more 
obvious,  perhaps,  since  he  adopted  not  the  bearing 
or  gait  of  the  others,  but  moved  along  erect,  with  a 
graceful  demeanour,  and  a  step  of  natural  ease  and 
dignity.  He  had  but  one  characteristic  of  a  Mexi- 
can ;  and  that  was  the  long  hair,  straight,  and  of 
an  intense  blackness,  that  fell  from  his  temples  to 
his  breast,  with  much  of  a  wild  and  savage  profu- 
sion, concealing,  in  part,  a  cheek  of  the  finest  con- 
tour, though  somewhat  hollowed  by  hardship,  and, 
perhaps,  suffering.      The  puffs  of  wind,  blowing 


58  THE   IN'FIDEL. 

aside  tliis  sable  eurtain,  disclosed  an  elevated  fore- 
head, crowning  a  visage  in  which  every  feature 
was  of  the  mould  of  Castile,  and  after  the  happiest 
model  of  that  order  of  beauty,  each  being  sculptured 
with  a  touch  that  preserved  delicacy,  even  while 
giving  boldness.  His  age  would  have  been  a  ques- 
tion wherewith  to  puzzle  a  physiognomist :  there 
was  much  in  the  smoothness  of  his  brow,  and  the 
unaltered  freshness  of  a  mouth,  over  which  was 
sprouting  a  mustache,  short  and  bushy,  as  if  as 
lately  submitted  to  the  tonsure  as  the  beard  of  his 
companion,  that  spoke  of  youth  just  verging  into 
maturity;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  the  complete 
developement  of  his  frame,  and  the  seriousness  of 
his  countenance,  would  have  conveyed  the  impres- 
sion of  an  age  many  years  farther  advanced.  This 
seriousness  of  expression  was,  indeed,  more  than 
mere  gravity ;  it  indicated  a  melancholy,  or  even 
sadness,  which,  though  of  a  gentle  cast,  was  be- 
come a  settled  and  permanent  characteristic. 

As  he  approached,  his  eyes  were,  like  his  com- 
panions', fixed  with  curiosity  upon  the  long  and 
dense  body  of  Tlascalans,  from  whom  they  were 
only  withdrawn,  when  the  exclamation  of  Najara 
attracted  them  suddenly  to  the  group  at  the  cypress. 
The  confusion  of  these  personages  was  so  manifest, 
and  they  handled  their  arms  with  an  air  so  indica- 
tive of  hostility,  that  the  old  warrior  and  the  red- 
bearded  man  came  to  an  instant  halt,  and  looked, 
as  if  for  instructions,  to  their  taller  and  more  noble- 
visaged  companion.  He  instantly  stepped  before 
them,  and  waving  his  hand  to  Najara,  who  was 
hastily  fitting  a  bolt  to  his  crossbow,  and  to  the 
historian,  who  presented  his  partisan  with  greater 
alacrity  of  decision  than  would  have  been  antici- 
pated from  his  sluggish  appearance,  cried  aloud, 

"  Hold,  friends  !  We  are  not  enemies,  but  Chris- 
tians and  Castilians." 

"Art  thou   Juan   Lermal    and   art   thou   truly 


THE  INFIDEL.  59 

alive  1  or  do  I  look  upon  thy  phantom  V  cried  the 
hunchback,  with  an  agitated  voice. 

"  Out,  fool !  we  are  good  living  men,"  exclaimed 
the  red-bearded  man,  angrily ;  "  and  with  flesh 
enough  upon  our  bones,  to  cudgel  thee  into  better 
manners,  I  trow.  Is  this  the  way  you  receive  old 
friends,  returning  from  bondage  among  infidels? 
What,  Bernal  Diaz,  thou  ass  !  dost  thou  not  know 
Gaspar  Olea,  thine  old  townsman  of  Medina-del- 
Campo,  thy  brother-in-arms  and  sworn  friend  ]  nor 
yet  the  senor  Don  Juan  Lerma,  my  captain  and 
friend  in  trouble  ]  nor  Ocelotzin,  the  old  Ottomi 
rascal,  our  guide  here  T" 

"  Ay,  oho  !  old  rascal,  old  friend  ;  all  friends,  all 
rascals,"  cried  the  Indian,  looking  affectionately 
towards  the  Castilians,  who  still  stood  in  doubt, 
and  using  the  few  Spanish  words  with  which  he 
was  familiar ;  "  good  friends,  good  rascals, — Cas- 
tellanos,  Cristianos  ; — friends,  rascals." 

While  the  rest  were  hesitating,  the  cavalier  Don 
Francisco  de  Guzman  suddenly  stepped  out  from 
among  them,  and,  advancing  towards  the  young 
man  Lerma,  with  a  smiling  countenance  and  ex- 
tended hand,  said, 

"  Though  I  am  not  thought  to  be  the  most  loving 
of  thy  friends,  I  will  be  the  first  to  bid  thee  wel- 
come, senor  Lerma,  in  token  that  old  feuds  do  not 
mar  the  satisfaction  with  which  I  behold  a  Chris- 
tian man  rescued  so  happily,  and  as  it  appears  to 
me,  so  marvellously,  from  the  grave." 

The  emotions  and  changes  of  countenance  with 
which  the  young  man  heard  these  words,  were 
various  and  strongly  marked.  At  the  first  tones 
of  Guzman,  he  started  back,  as  if  a  serpent  had 
suddenly  crossed  his  path,  and  grew  pale,  while 
his  eyes  flashed  a  ferocious  and  deadly  fire.  At 
the  next,  the  blood  rushed  over  his  visage,  and 
throbbed  with  a  visible  violence  in  the  vessels  of 
his  temples ;  while  he  half  raised  the  macana,  which 


60  THE  INFIDEL. 

he  carried,  in  lieu  of  a  better  weapon,  as  if  to 
cleave  the  speaker  to  the  earth.  Tiie  next  instant, 
the  angry  suffusion  departed,  his  brows  relaxed 
their  severity,  the  deep  melancholy  gathered  again 
in  his  eyes,  and  he  surveyed  the  cavalier  with  a 
patient  and  grave  placidity,  until  the  latter  had 
finished  his  salutation.  Tlien,  bending  his  head, 
and  folding  his  hands  upon  his  breast,  he  replied, 
mildly,  and  without  a  shadow  of  anger, 

"  1  have,  as  thou  saycst,  returned  from  the  grave, 
in  the  sight  of  which  I  strove,  as  a  Christian  should, 
to  make  my  peace  with  man  as  well  as  with  hea- 
ven. I  have  done  so;  I  am  at  peace  with  all;  I  am 
at  peace  with  thee — But  I  cannot  give  thee  my 
hand." 

The  cavalier  Don  Francisco  received  this  rejec- 
tion of  his  good-will  with  no  sign  of  dissatisfaction, 
that  was  distinguishable  by  others,  beyond  a  smile 
or  sneer  ;  but  inclining  his  head  towards  Lerma,  he 
muttered  in  his  ear — 

"  The  strife  is  unequal ;  but  I  accept  thy  defiance. 
Thou  art  but  a  broken-legged  wolf,  and  wilt  fight 
a  fatted  tiger — I  am  content." 

So  saying,  or  rather  whispering,  for  his  words 
were  only  caught  by  the  ears  of  Juan,  the  cavalier 
turned  upon  his  heel,  and  without  condescending 
to  exhibit  his  mortification  in  the  vain  air  of  pride 
and  scorn,  assumed  by  ordinary  men  on  such  oc- 
casions, he  began  to  walk  towards  the  city.  He 
was  presently  followed  by  the  seiior  Camarga ; 
who,  having  fastened  upon  Juan,  for  a  few  moments, 
a  look  of  intense  curiosity,  flung,  when  he  had  satis- 
fied himself,  his  cloak  over  the  lower  part  of  his 
visage,  and  thus  departed. 

"  You  give  me  but  a  cold  welcome,  good  friends," 
said  Juan,  looking  after  the  retreating  man  with  a 
sigh.  "  Will  no  one  else  in  this  company  offer  his 
hand  to  one  who  burns  with  joy  at  the  sight  of 
Christian  faces  ]" 


THE  INFIDEL.  61 

"  When  thou  art  better  acquainted  with  the  bounty 
of  the  compliment,  doubtless,  but  no  sooner,"  said 
the  hunchback,  who  had  surveyed  the  youth  with 
an  interest  which  was  belied  by  his  present  scorn. 
"  A  good  day  to  you,  seilor  Juan  Lerma,  and  God 
keep  you  well.  There  is  a  good  path  over  the 
mountains,  northward,  by  the  way  of  Otumba.  If 
you  like  not  the  company  of  heathens,  there  are 
fair  maids  enow  in  Cuba." 

With  these  hints,  which  the  young  man  listened 
to  with  a  disturbed  aspect,  and  which  the  hunch- 
back accompanied  with  sour  and  contemptuous 
looks,  he  turned  away,  and  began  to  hobble  after 
his  companions. 

"  Now  God  be  our  stay  !"  exclaimed  Juan,  with 
some  emotion,  "  there  is  not  a  man  who  has  a  tear 
for  our  sorrows,  or  a  smile  for  our  joy.  It  were 
better  we  had  perished,  Gaspar !" 

"  /  am  not  ashamed  to  give  thee  my  hand,"  said 
Bernal  Diaz,  shaking  off  his  amazement,  and  ad- 
vancing, "  though  I  know  not  how  far  thou  art  de- 
serving of  such  countenance.  But  I  must  first 
claim  to  embrace  my  old  friend  and  brother.  Gas- 
par  ;  whom,  by  my  faith,  I  can  scarce  believe  that 
I  see  living  before  me  !  How  didst  thou  thus  learn 
to  turn  thy  toes  in,  Gaspar  ?" 

"  Away,  thou  dog-eared,  ill-blooded  block  !"  cried 
the  red-bearded  Gaspar,  who  had  watched  the  turn 
of  proceedings  with  indignation,  and  now  poured 
forth  his  accumulated  wrath  upon  the  worthy  his- 
torian. "  Ashamed ! — thou  ashamed  ! — thy  coun- 
tenance ! — deserving  of  thy  countenance,  thou  ill- 
mannered,  bog-brained  churl  and  ass  !  Thou  wilt 
give  the  young  seSor  thy  hand  !  If  thou  dost  but 
lift  it,  I  will  smite  it  off"  with  my  battle-axe.  Cur- 
mudgeon !  /  thy  friend  and  brother  ? — I  discard 
thee  and  forswear  thee ;  I  do,  marry — " 

"  Peace,  Gaspar,"  said  Lerma,  mildly  ;  "  quarrel 
not  with  thy  friend  on  my  account ;  thou  hast  no 

VOL.  I.  6 


M^ 


62  THE   INFIDEL. 

ofTenco  on  thine  own.  It  is  plnin,  there  is  but  cold 
cheer  in  store  for  me :  make  none  for  tliyself " 

"  Oh,  seiior !"  said  Caspar,  sharply,  for  his  ansrer 
was  waxin<r  iiot  and  imrcspective,  "  I  am  no  ser- 
vant, no  ^rinninir  lackey,  to  be  told,  '  do  me  tliis,' 
and  '  do  me  that,'  l)y  your  excellent  favour ;  no,  by 
your  leave,  no; — I  am  your  soldier,  not  your  foot- 
man. I  will  quarrel  when  I  like,  and  I  will  not  be 
chidden.     I  am  your  soldier,  sefior,  your  soldier — " 

"  My  friend,  I  think,"  said  the  young  man ; 
"  though  thou  dost  now  afflict  me  more  than  those 
who  seem  my  enemies." 

"  Afflict ! — enemies  ! — /  afflict !"  cried  Caspar, 
fiercely  ;  "  I  quarrel  with  your  enemies  ! — ay,  a  ou- 
trance,  as  the  Frenchmen,  say.  I  have  fought  them 
in  Italy.  Fuego  !  enemies  ! — call  this  knave  by  the 
name,  and  if  I  do  not  smite  him  to  the  chine,  towns- 
man though  he  be — " 

"  Peace,  Caspar,  if  thou  art  my  friejid,  as,  I  trust 
this  good  Bernal  is, — " 

"  Co  to,"  said  Bernal  Diaz,  in  high  dudgeon,  ad- 
dressing himself  to  Caspar,  "  thou  art  turned  hea- 
then, or  thou  wouldst  not  so  abuse  me.  I  care  for 
you  not ;  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  you,  nor  with 
any  of  your  companions.  By  and  by  you  will  re- 
pent.    God  be  with  yon,  and  make  you  wiser." 

With  these  words,  the  historian  followed  the  ex- 
ample of  the  others,  and  was  straightway  stalking, 
with  impetuous  strides,  towards  Tezcuco. 

"  Now  art  you  not  ashamed,  Caspar,  to  have 
given  way  to  this  boy's  wrath!  Wilt  thou  be  wo- 
manish, too  I" 

"  Ay,"  said  Caspar,  shaking  his  head  with  the 
fury  of  a  mastiff,  rending  some  meaner  animal,  and 
thus  dashing  away  certain  tears  of  rage  or  morti- 
fication, that  were  starting  in  his  eyes  :  "  it  doth 
make  a  woman  of  me,  to  think  we  have  escaped 
from  dangers  such  as  were  never  dreamed  of  by 
these  false  traitors, — from  infidel  prisons  and  hea- 


THE  INFIDEL.  63 

then  maws,  and  come,  at  last,  among  Christian 
men,  whom  I  could  have  hugged,  every  ill  loon  of 
them  all ;  and  not  one  to  stretch  forth  his  hand,  and 
say  God  bless  me  !  You  were  right,  senor ;  it  were 
better  to  have  remained  slaves  with  the  King  of 
the  Humming-bird  Valley,  than  to  have  left  him  for 
such  hangdog  welcome." 

"  Thou  wouldst  have  had  nothing  to  complain  of, 
hadst  thou  bridled  thy  impatient  temper.  These 
men  meant  not  to  provoke  thee.'''' 

"  Bad  friends,  bad  rascals  !"  said  the  Ottomi,  who, 
during  these  several  passages,  had  been  staring 
from  one  Christian  to  another  in  unconcealed 
amazement :  "  bad  friends  !  no  good  rascals !"  he 
muttered  in  Spanish  ;  then  instantly  changing  to 
Mexican,  which  though  not  his  native  tongue,  was 
more  familiar  to  him,  and  was  besides  well  under- 
stood by  Juan,  he  continued, 

"  Itzquauhtzin,  the  Great  Eagle,"  (for  thus  he 
chose  to  designate  the  youth,)  "  has  settled  upon 
the  hill  of  kites.  Where  are  his  wings  7  Malintzin 
is  angry ;  he  sends  his  young  men  to  frown.  Here 
is  another :  he  laughs  with  his  eyes. — Ocelotzin  is 
an  old  tiger, — Techeechee  is  a  dog  without  voice; 
but  the  itzW^  is  sharp  in  his  hand.  Shall  he 
strike  ?"     . 

The  wild  eyes  of  the  barbarian  (for  the  Ottomies, 
or  mountain  Indians,  were  the  true  savages  of 
Anahuac,)  were  bent  with  the  subtle  and  malignant 
keenness  of  the  tiger  whose  name  he  bore,  upon 
the  Alguazil,  Villafana,  who,  standing  a  little  aside, 
and  for  a  time  unseen,  had  watched  the  salutations, 
and,  finally,  the  departure  of  his  companions,  with- 
out himself  saying  a  word.  He  now  stepped  for- 
ward, disregarding  the  evil  looks  of  the  Indian,  as 
well  as  those  of  Gaspar,  whose  feelings  of  mortifi- 
cation ^vere  thirsting  for  some  legitimate  object 

*  ItzUy  the  obsidian  or  volcanic  glass. 


04  THE  INFIDEL. 

whereon  to  exj>en(i  their  fury:  and  stretching  fortli 
his  hand  in  tho  most  friendly  manner,  said  to 
Juan, 

"  How  now,  sefior  ?  drive  tliis  old  cut-throat  dog 
away. — 1  claim  to  be  an  (jld  acquaintance,  an'd,  at 
this  moment,  not  a  cold  one.  The  foxes  being 
gone,  the  goose  may  stretch  her  neck. — Here  am 
1,  one  man  at  least,  heartily  glad  to  find  you  coming 
alive  fr(jm  the  trap,  and  not  afraid  to  say  so. — Does 
your  favour  forget  me?  Methinks  you  have  the 
gift  of  rejecting  the  hands  tliat  are  offered,  howso- 
ever you  may  covet  those  that  are  witiiheld," 

"  You  do  me  wrong — I  remember  you  well," 
said  Juan,  taking  the  hand,  from  which  he  had  first 
recoiled  with  a  visible  reluctance :  "  I  thank  you 
for  your  kindness.  Yes,  I  remember  you,"  he  re- 
peated, with  extreme  sadness :   "  Would  I  did  not." 

"  Come,  seiior  Caspar,"  continued  the  Alguazil, 
turning  to  Olea.  "  You  and  I  were  never  such 
friends  as  true  men  should  be ;  but,  notwithstand- 
ing, I  give  you  my  true  welcome  and  most  Chris- 
tian congratulations." 

"  I  ever  thought  you  a  knave,"  said  Caspar, 
clutching  Villafana's  hand,  with  a  sort  of  sulky 
thankfulness,  "  being  but  an  eternal  grumbler  and 
reviler  at  the  general.  But  I  see  you  are  more  of 
a  Christian  and  man  than  any  other  villain  of  them 
all.     Fire  and  blood  !    why  do  they  treat  us  thus  V* 

"  Oh,  you  shall  soon  know.  But  how  now,  seiior 
Lerma,  what  is  your  will  ?  Will  you  walk  with 
me  to  the  cityl  We  have  royal  commanders  now: 
'tis  a  matter  for  the  stocks,  and,  sometimes,  the 
strappado,  to  loiter  beyond  the  lines,  after  the 
trumpet's  call.  Will  you  walk  to  Tezcuco  1  or  do 
you  choose  rather  to  betake  you  to  the  hills,  as 
Najara  advised  you]  Cortes  is  another  man  now, 
senor,  and  somewhat  dangerous,  as  you  may  have 
inferred  from  the  bearing  of  his  favourites.     If  you 


THE   INFIDEL.  65 

would  be  wise,  go  not  near  him.  It  is  not  too 
late." 

"  Senor  Villafana,"  said  Juan,  "  what  I  have  seen 
and  heard  has  filled  me  with  trouble ;  for,  like 
Gaspar,  I  looked  for  such  reception  as  might  be  ex- 
pected by  men  returning  from  among  heathen  op- 
pressors, to  Christian  associates  and  old  friends.  I 
know  not  well  what  has  happened  during  the  four- 
teen months  of  my  absence  from  the  army,  save 
what  was  darkly  spoken  to  me  by  a  certain  king, 
in  whose  hands  I  have  remained,  with  my  com- 
panions, many  months  in  captivity.  He  gave  me 
to  believe  that  my  countrymen  had  all  fallen  in  a 
war  with  Montezuma,  whom  I  left  in  peace,  and  in 
strong,  though  undeserved,  bonds.  I  perceive  that 
I  have  been  cajoled :  I  rejoice  that  you  are  living 
men ;  but  I  know  not  why  1  should  fear  to  join  my- 
self again  among  you.  I  claim  to  be  conducted  to 
your  general." 

"  It  shall  be  as  you  choose ;  but,  seiior,  you  are 
no  longer  in  favour.  As  for  Gaspar  and  the  Indian, 
it  will  be  well  enough  with  them :  a  good  soldier 
like  Gaspar  is  worth  something  more  than  hanging; 
and  such  a  knave  as  this  old  savage  can  be  put  to 
good  use.  Seiior,  shall  I  speak  a  word  with  you] 
Bid  the  two  advance :  I  have  somewhat  to  say  to 
you  in  private." 

The  young  man  regarded  the  Alguazil  with  an 
anxious  countenance ;  and  then,  desiring  his  com- 
panions to  lead  the  way  towards  Tezcuco,  followed, 
at  a  little  distance,  with  Villafana. 


6  • 


GG  THE  INFIDEL. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


For  a  few  moments,  the  two  walked  together  in 
silence,  and  at  a  slow  pace,  until  the  others  were 
beyond  earshot ;  M'hen  Villafana,  suddenly  stopping 
and  casting  his  eyes  upon  Juan,  said,  with  but 
little  ceremony, 

"  Seiior  Juan  Lerma,  I  am  your  friend ;  and  by 
St.  Peter,  who  was  once  a  false  one,  you  need  one 
that  is  both  plain  and  true.  Does  your  memory 
tax  you  with  the  commission  of  any  act  deserving 
death  1" 

To  this  abrupt  demand,  the  young  man  an- 
swered, with  an  agitated  voice,  but  without  a  mo- 
ment's hesitation, 

"  It  does.  Thou  knowest  full  well,  and  perhaps 
all  others  know,  now,  that  I  have  shed  the  blood 
of  my  friend,  the  son  of  my  oldest  and  truest 
benefactor." 

"  Pho  !"  cried  Villafana,  hastily ;  "  I  meant  not 
that.  Your  friend,  indeed?  Come,  you  gi'ieve  too 
much  for  this.  At  the  worst,  it  was  the  mishap  of 
a  duel, — a  fair  duel ;  and,  I  am  a  witness,  it  was, 
in  a  manner,  forced  upon  you.  You  should  not 
think  of  this  :  there  are  but  few  who  know  of  it,  and 
none  blame  you.  What  I  meant  to  ask,  was  this — 
are  you  conscious  of  any  crime  worthy  of  death  at 
the  hands  of  Cortes  V 

"  I  am  not,"  said  Lerma,  firmly,  though  very 
sadly  ;  "  no,  by  mine  honour,  no  !  I  am  conscious, 
and  it  is  a  thing  long  since  known  to  all,  that  I 
have  entirely  lost  the  favour  with  which  he  was 
used  to  befriend  me.     Nay,  this  was  apparent  to 


THE  INFIDEL.  67 

me,  before  I  was  sent  from  his  presence.  I  hoped 
that  in  the  long  period  of  my  exile,  something  might 
occur  to  show  him  his  anger  was  unjust;  and,  with 
this  hope,  I  looked  this  day,  to  end  my  wanderings 
joyfully.  I  am  deceived  ;  everything  goes  to  prove, 
that  neither  my  long  sufferings,  (and  they  were 
both  long  and  many,)  nor  my  supposed  death  have 
made  my  appeal  of  innocence.  But  I  wDl  satisfy 
him  of  this  :  I  will  demand  to  know  my  crime.  If 
it  be  indeed,  as  I  think,  the  death  of  Hilario — " 

"  Pho !  be  wise.  He  counts  not  this  against  thee, 
— he  has  been  himself  a  duellist.  Say  nothing  of 
Hilario,  neither ;  no,  by  the  mass  !  nor  be  thou  so 
mad  as  to  question  him  of  his  anger.  Thou  art 
very  sure,  then — I  must  be  free  with  thee,  even  to 
the  dulness  of  repetition : — thou  art  very  sure, 
thou  hast  done  nothing  to  deserve  death  at  his 
hands  ?" 

"  I  call  heaven  to  witness,"  said  Juan,  "  that, 
save  this  unhappy  mischance  in  the  matter  of 
Hilario,  which  is  itself  deserving  of  death,  I  am 
ignorant  of  aught  that  should  bring  me  under  his 
displeasure." 

"  Enough,"  said  Villafana  :  "  But  I  would  thou 
shouldst  never  more  speak  of  Hilario.  He  is  dead, 
heaven  rest  his  soul !  He  was  a  knave  too  ;  peace, 
then,  to  his  bones  ! — I  am  satisfied,  thou  hast  done 
naught  to  Cortes,  deserving  death  at  his  hand.  I 
have  but  one  more  question  to  ask  you: — Has 
Cortes  done  nothing  to  deserve  death  at  thine  3"^ 

"Good  heavens!  what  do  you  mean?"  cried 
Juan,  starting  as  much  at  the  sinister  tones  as  the 
surprising  question  of  the  Alguazil. 

"Do  you  ask  me?  what,  you?'''*  said  Villafana, 
"  Come,  I  am  your  friend." 

As  the  Alguazil  pronounced  these  words,  with 
an  insinuating  frankness  and  earnestness,  he  threw 
into  his  countenance  an  expression  that  seemed 
meant  to  invite  the  confidence  of  the  young  man, 


68  THE  INFIDEL. 

and  encourasfo  him  to  expose  the  mystery  of  his 
breast,  by  laying  bare  the  secrets  of  his  own.  It 
was  a  transfiguration  :  the  mean  person  was  un- 
changed,— tlie  insignificant  features  did  not  alter 
tiieir  proportions, — but  the  smile  that  had  contorted 
them,  was  turned  into  a  sneer  of  fiendish  malig- 
nancy, and  the  peculiar  sweetness  that  character- 
ized his  eyes,  was  lost  in  a  sudden  glare  of  passion, 
so  demoniacal,  that  it  seemed  as  if  the  flames  of 
hell  were  blazing  in  their  sockets.  It  was  the 
look  of  but  an  instant :  it  made  Juan  recoil  with 
terror :  but  before  he  could  express  a  word  of  this 
feeling,  of  curiosity,  or  of  suspicion,  it  had  vanished. 
The  Alguazil  touched  his  arm,  and  said  quickly, 
though  without  any  peculiar  emphasis, 

"  Judge  for  yourself:  Heaven  forbid  I  should 
breed  ill-will  where  there  is  none,  or  plant  thorns 
in  my  friend's  flower-garden.  Judge  for  yourself^ 
seiior :  if,  being  innocent  of  all  crime,  Cortes  has 
yet  doomed  you,  basely  and  perfidiously,  to 
death,—" 

"  To  death !"  exclaimed  Juan,  with  a  voice  that 
reached  the  ears  of  his  late  companions,  and  brought 
them  to  a  sudden  stand ;  "  Heaven  be  my  help ! 
and  do  I  come  back  but  to  die  !" 

"  You  went  forth  but  to  die !"  said  Villafana ; 
"  and,  you  may  judge,  with  what  justice.  Come, 
senor, — the  thing  is  said  in  a  moment.  The  expe- 
dition was  designed  for  your  death-warrant." 

"  Villain  !"  exclaimed  Juan  ;  "  dare  you  impute 
this  horrible  treachery  to  Cortes  ]" 

"  Not, — no,  not,  if  it  appear  at  all  doubtful  to 
your  own  excellent  penetration,"  re})lied  the  Al- 
guazil, with  a  laugii.  "  I  do  but  repeat  you  the  be- 
lief of  some  half  the  army — had  it  been  but  before 
the  Noche  Triste,  I  might  have  said,  all:  but,  in 
truth,  we  are  now,  more  than  half  of  us,  new  men, 
who  know  but  little  of  the  matter." 


THE  INFIDEL.  69 

"  Does  any  one  charge  this  upon  the  general  T* 
said  Juan,  with  a  look  of  horror. 

'*  Ay, — if  you  call  them  not  '  villains,' "  replied 
the  soldier. 

"  I  will  know  the  truth,"  said  Juan.  "  I  will 
find  who  has  belied  me." 

"  You  will  find  that  of  any  one  but  Don  Hernan. 
Senor  Don  Juan,  I  pity  you.  You  have  returned 
at  an  evil  moment;  your  presence  will  chill  old 
friends,  and  sharpen  ancient  enemies." 

"If  he  seek  my  life,  it  is  his:  but,  by  heaven,  the 
man  who  has  wronged  me, — " 

"  Get  thy  horse  and  arms  first.  Wilt  thou  be 
wise]  Thou  shalt  have  friends  to  back  thee. 
Listen :  A  month  since,  there  came  for  thee,  in  a 
ship  from  the  islands,  two  very  noble  horses,  and 
a  suit  of  goodly  armour,  sent,  as  was  said,  by  some 
benevolent  friend,  whom  thou  mayst  be  quicker  at 
remembering  than  myself" 

"  Sent  by  heaven,  I  think,"  said  Lerma,  "for  I 
know  not  what  earthly  friend  would  so  supply  my 
necessities." 

"  Oh,  then,"  said  Villafana,  "  the  rumour  is,  they 
were  sent  thee  by  the  lady  Catalina,  our  general's 
wife." 

"  May  heaven  bless  her !"  exclaimed  Juan ;  "  for 
she  is  mine  only  friend :  and  this  bounty  I  have 
not  deserved." 

"In  this  matter,"  said  Villafana,  dryly,  "  she  will 
prove  rather  thine  enemy  ;  that  is,  if  thou  art  reso- 
lute to  demand  the  restoration  of  her  gifts." 

"  The  restoration !" 

"In  good  truth,  they  were  distributed  among 
thine  heirs  ;  the  horse  Bobadil,  thought  by  many  to 
be  the  best  in  the  army,  faUing  to  the  share  of  thy 
good  friend  Guzman." 

"To  Guzman?"  cried  Juan,  angrily.  "Could 
they  find  no  better  friend  to  give  him  to  1  I  will 


70  THE  INFIDEL. 

have  him  back  again  ;  yea,  by  St.  Juan,  he  shall 
ride  no  steed  of  mine  !'* 

"Right!"  exclaimed  Villafana  ;  "  for  if  tlKHi  hast 
an  enemy,  he  is  the  man.  Thou  didst  well,  to  re- 
fuse his  hand.  He  offered  it  not  in  love,  but  in 
treachery.  Thou  wilt  ask  Crhtes  for  thy  malignerl 
It  needs  not :  rememljer  Don  Francnsco," 

"  I  will  do  so,"  said  Juan,  with  a  sigh.  "  I  thought, 
in  my  captivity,  when  I  despaired  of  ever  more 
looking  ui)on  a  Christian  face,  that  I  had  forgiven 
my  enemies.  I  deceived  myself, — I  hate  Don  Fran- 
cisco. I  will  proclaim  him  before  tlie  wiiole  army, 
if  he  refuse  to  do  me  reparation." 

"  I  tell  thee,  thou  sluilt  have  friends,"  said  the 
Alguazil,  with  an  insinuating  voice,  "  to  back  thee 
in  this  matter,  as  well  as  in  all  others  wherein  thou 
hast  been  wronged.  But  thou  must  be  ruled. 
Speak  not  to  Cortes  in  complaint :  he  will  do  .thee 
no  justice.  Send  no  defiance  of  battle  to  Guzman, 
for  this  has  been  proclaimed  a  sin  against  God  and 
the  king,  to  be  punished  with  loss  of  arms,  degra- 
dation, and  whipping  with  rods, — sometimes  with 
the  loss  of  the  right  hand.  You  stare !  Oh,  seiior 
Juan  Lerma,  you  will  find  we  have  a  master  now, — 
a  master  by  the  king's  patent, — who  makes  his  own 
laws,  beats  and  dishonours,  and  gives  us  to  the 
gallows,  when  the  fit  moves  him,  without  any  ne- 
cessity of  cozening  us  to  death  in  expeditions  to  the 
gold  mines,  or  the  South  Seas." 

"  Senor  Villafana,"  said  Juan,  firmly,  "  I  do  not 
believe  that,  in  this  thing,  Cortes  designed  me  any 
wrong;  nor  will  I  permit  myself  to  tiiink  of  it  any 
more.  You  seem  to  have  something  to  say  to  me. 
Gaspar  and  the  Indian  are  beyond  hearing.  If  you 
will  advise  me  as  a  friend,  in  what  manner  I  shall 
conduct  myself  in  this  difficult  conjuncture,  I  will 
listen  to  you  with  gratitude  ;  and  with  thanks  more 
hearty  still,  if  you  make  me  acquainted  with  a  way 


THE  INFIDEL.  71 

to  redeem  my  honom*  and  faith  in  the  eyes  of  the 
general." 

"  I  have  but  two  things  to  counsel  you :  Make 
your  report  of  adventures,  good  and  bad,  to  the 
general,  without  words  of  complaint  or  suspicion ; 
and,  this  done,  demand  of  liim,  and  care  not  how 
boldly,  the  restoration  of  your  horses  and  armour." 

"  If  they  be  the  gifts  of  his  lady,"  said  Juan,  with 
hesitation,  "  methinks,  it  will  not  become  me  to 
press  this  demand  on  him  ;  but  rather  to  leave  it  to 
his  own  honour  and  generosity." 

The  Alguazil  gave  the  youth  a  piercing  look ;  but 
seeing  in  his  visage  no  embarrassment  beyond  that 
of  a  man  who  is  debating  a  question  of  mere  deli- 
cacy, replied,  coolly, — 

"Ask  him,  then.  It  is  not  certainly  known 
that  these  horses  came  from  Doiia  Catalina ;  and, 
perhaps,  they  do  not.  Yet  it  will  be  but  courteous 
in  thee  to  say,  thou  hast  been  so  informed,  and 
that  thou  dost  so  believe.  Get  thy  horses,  by  all 
means :  but  again  I  say  to  thee,  do  nothing  to  in- 
cense the  general.  If  he  provoke  thee,  show  not 
thy  displeasure ;  at  least,  show  it  not  now.  I  will 
give  thee  more  reasons  for  what  I  counsel,  as  we 
walk  through  the  city." 

By  this  time  the  speakers  had  reached  the  gates 
of  the  city,  where  Gaspar  and  the  Ottomi  stood  ia 
waiting  for  them. 


72  THE  INFIDEL. 


CHAPTER  V. 


The  walls  of  Mexico  were  the  foaming  surges  of 
lier  lake.  The  cities  on  the  shore,  when  much  ex- 
posed by  defencelessness  of  site,  great  wealth  of  in- 
habitants, or  other  causes,  to  the  attacks  of  ene- 
mies, were  surrounded  by  walls,  commonly  of 
earth,  though  sometimes,  as  in  the  case  of  Tezcuco, 
of  stone.  These  were,  ordinarily,  of  no  great 
height  or  strength,  but  sufficient,  when  well  man- 
ned, to  repel  the  assaults  of  the  slingers  and  archers 
of  America. 

The  external  fortifications  of  Tezcuco  were,  .as 
became  the  ancient  rival  of  Tenochtitlan,  of  a  more 
imposing  order.  The  walls  were  thick  and  high, 
with  embattled  parapets,  and  deep  ditches  at  the 
base.  The  gates  were  protected  in  the  manner 
common  to  the  land,  by  the  overlapping,  so  to 
speak,  of  the  opposite  walls ;  that  is,  being  made, 
as  they  approached  each  other,  to  change  from  their 
straight,  to  a  circular  course,  the  one  traversing 
upon  a  greater  radius  than  the  other,  they  thus 
swept  by  and  round  each  other,  in  parallel  curves, 
leaving  a  long  and  narrow  passage  between  them, 
commanded  not  only  by  the  walls  themselves,  but 
by  strong  stone  turrets,  built  on  their  extremities. 

Besides  these  defences,  there  was  erected  within 
the  walls,  and  directly  opposed  to  each  entrance,  a 
small  pyramid,  elevated  fifteen  or  twenty  feet  above 
the  walls,  and  crowned  with  little  sanctuaries, — 
thus  serving  a  religious  as  well  as  a  military  pur- 


THE  INFIDEL.  73 

pose.  In  the  one  sense,  these  structures  might  be 
considered  Chapels  of  Ease  to  the  greater  temples 
of  the  quarters  in  which  they  stood ;  in  the  other, 
they  were  not  unlike  the  cavaliers,  or  commanding 
mounds,  of  European  fortification,  from  the  tops 
and  sides  of  which  the  besieger  •  could  be  annoyed, 
whilst  without  the  walls,  and  arrested  on  his  course, 
when  within. 

Thus,  then,  there  were  ready  to  his  hands,  forti- 
fications, of  which  the  Spanish  commander,  now 
the  Captain-General  of  New  Spain,  as  the  unsub- 
dued Mexico  was  already  called,  was  not  slow  to 
reap  the  full  advantage.  A  strong  guard  of  Casti- 
lian  soldiers  was  posted  before  each  gate ;  a  native 
watchman  sat  on  each  turret ;  and  a  line  of  Tlas- 
calan  sentries,  stepping  proudly  along  in  their 
places  of  trust,  occupied  the  lofty  terrace  of  the 
walls. 

The  edifices  disclosed  to  Juan,  when  he  had, 
with  his  companions,  passed  through  the  staring 
warders  into  the  town,  were  similar  to  those  of 
Mexico, — of  stone,  and  low,  though  ofl;en  adorned 
with  turrets.  In  all  cases,  the  roofs  were  terraced, 
and  covered  with  shrubs  and  flowers  ;  and  the 
passion  of  the  citizens  for  such  delightful  embellish- 
ments, had  converted  many  a  spacious  square  into 
gardens,  wherein  fluttered  and  warbled  birds  of  a 
thousand  hues  and  voices. 

Over  these  open  spaces  were  seen,  in  different 
quarters,  the  tops  of  high  pyramids  and  towers, 
scattered  about  the  town  in  vast  and  picturesque 
profusion. 

The  roaring  sound  of  life  that  pervades  a  great 
city,  even  when  unassisted  by  the  thundering  din 
of  wheeled  carriages,  gave  proof  enough  of  the 
dense  multitudes  that  inhabited  Tezcuco.  The  eye 
detected  the  evidences  of  a  population  still  more  as- 
tonishing, in  the  myriads  of  tawny  bodies  that 
crowded    the     streets,    the    gardens,    the    temple 

VOL.  I.  7 


74  THE  INFIDEL. 

square.*;,  and  the  housetops,  many  of  whom  seemed 
to  have  no  other  habitation.  In  fact,  the  introduc- 
tion of  the  many  thousands  who  composed  the 
train,  or,  as  it  was  called,  the  Anny  of  the  Briiran- 
tines,  added  to  the  hosts  of  other  warriors  previous- 
ly collected  by  Cortes,  and  the  presence  of  the  ori- 
ginal inhabitants,  «rave  to  Tezcuco  that  aj^pearance 
of  an  over-crowded,  sulfocatinfj:  vitality,  which  is 
presented  by  the  modern  Babylons  of  France  and 
Great  Britain.  The  murmur  of  voices,  the  patter- 
ing: of  feet,  the  rustling  of  garments,  with  the  sounds 
of  instruments  wielded  by  artisans,  both  native  and 
Christian,  made,  together,  a  din  that  seemed  like 
the  roar  of  a  tempest  tt)  the  ears  of  one,  wli<^,  like 
Lerma,  had  just  esca})ed  from  the  mute  hills  and 
the  silent  forests  of  the  desert.  At  a  distance — be- 
held from  the  cypress-tree, — the  view  of  Tezcuco 
seemed  to  embrace  a  scene  made  up  of  tranquillity 
and  repose.  The  same  thing  is  true  of  all  other 
cities ;  and  the  same  thing  may  be  said  of  human  life, 
when  we  sit  aloof  and  contemplate  the  bright  pa- 
geant, in  which  we  take  no  part.  If  we  advance 
and  mingle  with  it,  the  picture  is  turned  to  life,  the 
peace  to  tumult,  and  we  lose  all  the  charms  of  the 
prospect  in  the  distractions  of  participation. 

As  Juan,  C(jnducted  by  the  Alguazil,  made  his 
way  through  the  torrents  of  bodies  which  poured 
through  every  street,  and  became  more  accustomed 
to  move  among  them,  the  excitement  gradually 
subsided  in  his  breast,  the  colour  faded  from  his 
cheeks  ;  and,  by  the  time  he  had  reached  the  end 
of  his  journey,  there  remained  no  expression  on  his 
visage  beyond  that  of  its  usual  and  characteristic 
sadness.  This  was  deepened,  perhaps,  by  the 
scene  around  him  ;  for  it  is  the  virtue  of  melancholy, 
where  it  exists  as  a  temperament,  or  has  become 
a  settled  trait,  to  be  increased  by  the  excitements 
of  a  city  or  crowd.  Perhaps  it  was  darkened  also 
by  the  reflection,  as  he  raised  his  eyes  to  the  vast 


THE  INFIDEL.  75 

palace  in  which  Cortes  had  established  his  head- 
quarters, that  among  all  its  crowds, — the  military- 
guards  at  the  door,  and  the  lounging  courtiers 
within, — there  was  not  a  single  friend  waiting  to 
rejoice  over  his  return. 

The  house  of  Nezahualcojotl,  who  has  been  al- 
ready mentioned  as  the  most  famous  and  refined  of 
the  Tezcucan  kings,  possessed  but  little  to  distin- 
guish it  from  the  edifices  of  nobles  around,  except 
its  greatness  of  extent.  It  was  a  pile  or  cluster 
of  many  houses  built  of  vast  blocks  of  basalt,  well 
cut  and  polished,  surrounding  divers  courts  and 
gardens, — what  might  be  termed  the  wings  con- 
sisting of  but  a  basement  story,  which  was  relieved 
from  monotony  by  the  presence  of  towers  and  bat- 
tlements, and  the  sculptured  effigies  of  animals  and 
serpents  on  the  walls,  and  particularly  around  the 
narrow  loops  which  served  for  windows.  The 
centre,  or  principal  portion,  had  an  additional  story, 
loftier  towers,  and  more  imposing  sculptures.  The 
windows  were  carved  of  stone,  so  as  to  resemble 
the  yawning  mouths  of  beasts  of  prey ;  the  battle- 
ments were  crouching  tigers ;  and  the  pillars  of  the 
great  door  were  palm-trees,  round  the  trunks  of 
which  twined  two  immense  serpents,  whose  necks 
met  at  the  lintel,  among  the  interlocking  branches, 
and  embraced  and  supported  a  huge  tablet,  on 
which  was  engraven  the  Aztec  calendar,  according 
to  the  singular  and  yet  just  system  of  the  ancient 
native  astronomers. — Sixty  years  after  this  period, 
the  sages  of  Europe  discovered  and  adopted  a  mode 
of  adjusting  the  civil  to  the  astronomical  time,  so 
as  to  avoid,  for  the  future,  the  confusion — the  utter 
disjointing  of  seasons — which  had  been  the  conse- 
quence of  the  Julian  computation.  At  this  very- 
moment,  the  barbarians  of  America  were  in  pos- 
session of  a  system,  which  enabled  them  to  antici- 
pate, and  rectify  by  proper  intercalations,  the  disor- 
ders not  only  of  years,  but  of  cycles, — and  how 


70  THE  INFIDEL. 

much  earlier,  the  wisdom  of  civilization  has  not  yet 
divined. 

On  tlie  wiiole,  there  was  something  not  less  im- 
pressive than  peculiar  in  the  appearance  of  an  edi- 
fice which  had  sheltered  a  lonir  line  of  Autochtho- 
nous monarchs ;  and  as  Juan  passed  from  the 
square,  in  front  of  tiie  artillery  that  commanded  it, 
under  the  folds  of  the  mifrhty  serpents  at  the  door, 
and  into  the  sombre  shadows  of  the  interior,  he  was 
struck  with  a  feeline^  of  awe,  which  was  not  imme- 
diately removed  even  by  the  more  stirring  emotions 
of  the  instant. 

The  hall,  or  rather  vestibule,  in  which  he  now 
found  himself,  was  distinguished,  rather  than  ani- 
mated, by  the  presence  of  many  S^ianiards  of  high 
and  low  degree,  some  clustered  together  in  groups, 
some  stalking  to  and  fro  in  haughty  solitude,  while 
others  bustled  about  with  an  air  of  importance  and 
authority ;  but  all,  as  Lerma  quickly  observed,  pre- 
serving a  decorous  silence, — conversing  in  whis- 
pers, and  moving  with  a  cautious  tread,  as  if  in  the 
anteroom  of  a  king,  instead  of  the  hall  of  a  soldier- 
of-fortune  like  themselves. 

A  few  of  them  bent  their  eyes  upon  the  strangers, 
and  stepped  forward  to  survey  their  savage  equip- 
ments. The  keen  glances  which  they  cast  towards 
him,  the  hurried  and  somewhat  sonorous  exclama- 
tions with  which  they  pointed  him  out  to  one  an- 
other, but  more  than  all,  the  presence  of  Najara,  of 
Bernal  Diaz,  and  of  the  stranger  Camarga,  among 
them,  convinced  Juan  that  he  was  recognized. 
But  with  this  conviction  came  also  the  sickening 
consciousness  that  not  one  had  a  smile  of  satisfac- 
tion to  bestow  upon  him  in  the  way  of  welcome. 
He  rememl)ercd  the  faces  of  many ;  and,  once  or 
twice,  he  raised  his  hand,  and  half  stepped  forward, 
to  meet  some  one  or  other  who  seemed  disposed  to 
salute  him.  He  was  deceived ;  those  who  came 
Highest,  were  only  the  most  curious.     They  nod- 


THE  INFIDEL.  77 

ded  their  heads  familiarly  to  Villafana ;  a  few 
returned  the  advances  of  Lerma  with  solemn  and 
reverential  bows ;  but  none  raised  up  their  heads 
to  meet  the  exile's  advances. 

"The  curse  of  ingratitude  follow  you  all,  cold 
knaves !"  muttered  Gaspar  between  his  teeth.  The 
eyes  of  the  Ottomi  twinkled  upon  the  groups,  with 
a  mixture  of  wonder  and  malignant  wrath.  Juan 
smothered  his  sighs,  and  strode  onwards. 

He  stopped  suddenly  at  a  door,  wreathed,  like 
the  outer,  with  snakes,  though  carved  of  wood,  over 
which  hung  curtains  of  some  dark  and  heavy  tex- 
ture, and  behind  which,  as  it  seemed  to  him,  from 
the  murmuring  of  voices,  was  the  apartment  in 
which  the  Captain-General  gave  audience  to  his 
followers  and  the  allied  tribes  of  Mexico,  who  made 
up  what  may  be  called,  as  it  seemed  to  be  con- 
sidered, his  court.  Here  Juan  paused,  and  turning 
to  the  Alguazil,  said,  calmly,  and  with  a  low  voice, 

"  From  what  I  have  seen  and  now  see,  I  perceive, 
it  will  not  be  fitting  I  should  approach  the  general 
— especially  in  these  weeds,  which  can  scarce 
extenuate  the  coldness  of  my  old  companions, — 
without  the  ceremony  of  an  announcement  and  ex- 
pressed permission." 

"  Fear  not,"  whispered  Villafana,  with  a  grim 
smile :  "  thy  friend  Francisco  will  have  done  thee 
this  good  turn.  Remember — offend  him  not  now : 
but,  still,  lay  claim  to  the  horses." 

As  he  spoke,  the  Alguazil,  pushed  aside  the  cur- 
tain, and,  in  a  moment  more,  the  youth  was  in  the 
presence  of  Cortes. 


78  THE   INFIDEL. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


The  apartment  into  which  Juan  now  found  him- 
solfintroduced,  was  very  spacious;  and,  indeed,  had 
the  height  of  tlio  ceilinsr  corre.sponded  in  proportion 
witii  the  len<zth  and  breadth,  would  have  been  es- 
teemed vast.  Without  being  so  low  as  to  be  de- 
cidedly mean,  it  was  yet  depressed  enough  to  show 
how  little  the  principles  of  taste  had  extended 
among  the  natives,  to  the  art  of  architecture ;  or, 
what  is  equally  probable,  how  wisely  provision 
was  made  against  the  earthquakes  and  other  con- 
vulsions, so  naturally  to  be  expected  in  a  land  of 
volcanoes. 

The  huge  rafters  of  cedar,  carved  into  strange 
and  eml)lematic  arabesques,  were  supported,  at 
intervals,  by  a  double  row  of  pillars  of  the  most 
grotesque  shapes.  On  the  walls  were  himg  arras, 
on  which  were  painted  rude  scenes  of  battle  and  of 
sacrifice,  with  hieroglyphic  records  of  history,  as 
well  as  choice  maxims  of  virtue  and  policy,  selected 
from  the  compositions  of  that  king,  who  had  finished, 
and  given  name  to  the  habitation,  long  since  found- 
ed b)"^  his  ancestors.  It  was  lighted  in  a  manner 
equally  rare  and  magnificent.  A  considerable  space 
in  the  further  or  western  wall,  from  which  the  tapestry 
was  drawn  aside,  was  occupied  by  stone  mullions 
of  strange  forms,  between  which  were  fixed  large 
translucent  blocks  of  alabaster,  such  as  we  now 
behold  in  the  church  windows  of  Puebla  de  los 
Angelos.  Upon  these  were  painted  many  incom- 
prehensible figures,  which  would  have  deformed  the 
beauty  of  the  stone,  but  for  the  brilliancy  and  de- 


THE  INFIDEL.  79 

licacy  of  their  hues.  As  it  was,  the  strong  glare  of 
the  evening  sun,  falling  upon  this  transparent  waH, 
came  through  it,  with  the  mellow  lustre  and  har- 
monious tints  of  a  harvest-moon,  shedding  a  soft  but 
sufficient  light  over  the  whole  apartment,  making 
what  was  harsh  tender,  and  what  was  lovely  al- 
most divine.* 

On  the  left  hand,  were  several  narrow  doors, 
opening  upon  a  garden,  which  was  seen,  some- 
times, when  the  breeze  stirred  aside  the  curtains 
that  defended  them ;  on  the  right,  were  others 
leading  to  certain  chambers,  and  carefully  protected 
by  a  similar  drapery. 

The  floor  of  this  hall  of  audience  was  covered 
with  mats  stained  with  various  colours. 

At  the  farther  extremity  of  the  apartment  stood 
a  group  of  Spanish  cavaliers,  surrounding  a  plat- 
form of  slight  elevation,  on  which,  sumptuously 
dressed,  and  leaning  upon  a  camoncillo,  or  chair  of 
state,  stood  Hernan  Cortes.  At  his  right  hand,  sit- 
ting and  supported  by  two  gallant  cavaliers,  was  his 
royal  godson,  Ixtlilxochitl,  now  Don  Hernan  Cortes, 
the  king  of  Tezcuco ; — a  young  man  of  mild  aspect ;  at 
whose  feet  sat  liis  younger  and  more  manly  brother, 
Suchel,  from  whom  was  afterwards  derived  one  of 
the  noble  families  of  New  Spain.  On  the  left  of  the 
general,  were  two  Indians  of  a  far  nobler  presence, 
and  known  by  the  singular  loftiness  of  their  plumes, 
if  not  by  the  commanding  sternness  of  their  visages, 
to  be  Tlascalans  of  high  degree.  They  were,  in 
fact,  the  military  chieftains  Xicotencatl  and  Chi- 
chimecatl,  men  of  renown  not  only  among  their 
tribes,  but  the  Spaniards.  Behind  each  stood  his 
page,  or  esquire,  bearing  the  great  shield  of  cere- 


•  Windows  of  this  rich  material  were  discovered  in  a 
Koman  villa  at  Pompeii.  The  effect  of  a  lamp  in  an  ala- 
baster vase  will  be  familiar  to  the  reader. 


so  THE   IN'FIDEL. 

mony,  whereon  were  emblazoned,  in  native  heraldic 
devices,  the  various  exploits  of  his  master. 

Besides  these  distintruished  barbarians,  there 
were  others  of  note  among  the  cavaliers,  at  the  side 
of  the  platform. 

All  these  several  details  of  a  spectacle  both  ro- 
mantic and  imposing,  were  seen  by  Juan  at  a  single 
glance  ;  for,  almost  at  the  moment  of  his  entrance, 
a  movement  was  made  aniong  those  who  stood  on 
the  left  of  the  platform,  in  the  direction  of  the. 
great  Conquistador,  as  if  they  desired  to  catch 
something  that  instant  falling  from  his  lips.  As 
they  left  the  view  thus  open,  Juan  saw  that  Cortes, 
instead  of  speaking,  was  bending  his  head  and 
listening  with  eager  interest  to  the  senor  Guzman, 
who  had  ascended  the  platform,  and  was  now 
whispering  in  his  ear.  At  the  same  moment,  a 
prodigiously  large  dog,  with  shaggy  coat,  hanging 
lips,  and  ferocious  eyes,  roused  by  the  motion  of 
the  general,  at  whose  feet  he  had  been  sleeping, 
raised  his  head,  and  stared  with  the  majestic  gravity 
of  a  lion,  upon  the  speaker  and  his  master. 

There  was  something  in  the  interested  and  agi- 
tated eagerness  with  which  the  Captain-General 
drank  in  the  words  of  Guzman,  that  went  to  the 
heart  of  Lerma.  He  doubted  not,  that  Don  Fran- 
cisco was,  at  that  moment,  speaking  of  him^ — of 
his  return  to  the  society  of  Christians,  and  to  the 
arms  of  his  benefactor, — for  such  had  Cortes  once 
been  to  him  ;  and  he  read  in  the  varying  play  of 
Don  Hernan's  features,  nothing  but  refutation  of 
the  malign  charges  of  Villafana,  and  full  proof  that 
the  general  was  not  indifferent  to  the  friend  of 
former  years. 

As  these  thoughts  entered  his  mind,  he  rushed 
forward,  under  their  impulse,  with  clasped  hands, 
and  with  an  exclamation  that  brought  the  looks  of 
all  instantly  upon  him.  The  huge  dog  raised  him- 
self half  up  from  the  platform,  and  uttered  a  savage 


THE  INFIDEL.  81 

growl.  He  advanced  yet  another  step,  and  the 
ferocious  beast,  with  a  roar  that  filled  the  whole 
chamber,  dashed  furiously  from  the  platform,  as 
against  an  enemy  not  to  be  doubted.  The  young 
man  paused,  but  not  at  the  opposition  of  the  ani- 
mal :  he  had,  that  moment,  caught  the  eye  of  Don 
Hernan,  and  his  heart  failed  as  he  beheld  the  frown 
of  rage,  and,  as  it  seemed  to  him,  hate,  with  which 
he  was  regarded. 

"  Down,  Befo !"  cried  Cortes,  with  a  voice  of 
thunder. 

But  Befo,  who  had  leaped  forward  with  such 
ferocious  determination,  had,  that  instant,  stopped 
before  Juan,  whom  he  now  eyed  with  a  look  of 
wonder  and  recognition.  Then,  suddenly  fetching 
such  a  yelp  of  joy  as  would  have  better  become  the 
playmate-cur  of  a  child,  than  the  grim  blood-hound 
of  a  soldier,  he  raised  up  his  vast  body,  flung  his 
paws  upon  Juan's  breast,  and  strove,  evidently,  to 
throw  them  round  his  body,  in  the  mode  of  human 
embrace,  whining  all  the  time  with  the  most  ex- 
pressive delight. 

"  Down,  Befo !  Thick-lips  !  thou  cub  of  a  false 
wolf!"  repeated  the  general,  irefully,  yet  with  an 
expression  that  would  have  suited  better,  had  he 
been  commanding  him  to  tear  the  youth  to  pieces  ; 
"  Down,  fool,  down !  I  will  stick  thee  with  my  ra- 
pier." 

As  he  spoke,  he  half  drew  his  sword  from  the 
scabbard, 

"Harm  him  not, — call  him  not  away,"  cried 
Juan,  with  a  thick  voice ;  "  for  by  heaven  and  St. 
Mary,  he  is  all,  of  a  troop  of  Christian  men,  once 
my  friends,  who  have  any  joy  to  see  an  old  com- 
panion return  from  bonds  and  the  grave  !" 

As  the  young  man  spoke,  he  flung  his  arms 
round  the  neck  of  the  faithful  beast,  and  bending 
his  head  upon  Befo's  face,  gave  way  to  a  passion 
of  tears. 


82  TTIE  INFinEL. 

"  The  shame  of  f^ul  knavo>:  and  false  companinri!? 
be  on  you  all !"  cried  tiic  llaniing  CJaspar,  without 
a  whit  reg^arding  the  presence  in  which  he  spake. 
His  wrath  was  cut  short,  befi)reir  had  been  noticed 
by  any  but  tiie  Ottonii,  who  .stocnl  gaping,  at  a  dis- 
tance, with  looks  of  visible  alarm,  first  excited  by 
the  appearance  of  the  dog. 

Among  most  of  the  cavaliers  now  present,  Juan 
had  been  once  well  known;  and  however  their  affec- 
tions might  be  chilled  and  their  respect  destroyed,  by 
untoward  circumstances,  there  was  something  so 
painfully  rejiroachful  in  the  spectaclr  of  his  tears, 
that  a  strong  impression  was  inmiediately  pro<luced 
among  them.  All  seemed,  at  once,  to  remember, 
that  he  had  been  once  esteemed,  notwithstanding 
his  youth,  of  a  bold  heart  and  manly  blearing;  and 
all  seemed  to  remember  also,  that  fourteen  months' 
suffering  among  unknown  pagans,  was  worthy  of 
.some  little  commiseration. 

But  there  was  one  present  of  more  fiery  feelings 
and  determination  more  hasty  than  any  of  the 
Christians.  The  elder  and  taller  of  the  Tlascalan 
chiefs,  distinguished  as  much  by  a  haughty  and 
darkly  frowning  visage  as  by  an  Herculean  frame, 
stepped  down  from  the  platform,  and  laid  his  hand 
upon  Juan's  shoulder  ;  in  which  position  he  stood, 
without  speaking  a  word,  but  expressing  in  his 
countenance  the  spirit  of  one  who  avowed  himself 
a  patron  and  champion.  The  tall  plume  rustled 
like  a  waving  palm,  as  he  raised  up  his  head,  and 
the  look  that  he  cast  upon  Cortes,  seemed  to  mingle 
defiance  w  ith  disdain.  But  this  hostile  expression 
was  perhaps  concealed  by  the  ai)proach  of  a  cava- 
lier of  gallant  appearance,  who  stepped  suddenly 
from  the  throng,  and  snatching  up  Juan's  left  hand 
from  the  dog's  neck,  cried  with  hasty  good-will, 

"  Santiago  !  (and  the  devil  take  all  of  us  that 
have  no  better  hearts  than  a  cur  or  a  wild  Indian!) 
I  know  no  reason,  certainly,  why  thou  shouldst  be 


THE  INFIDEL.  83 

treated  like  a  dog.  God  be  with  thee,  Juan  Lerma! 
I  am  glad  thou  art  alive ;  God  bless  thee :  and  so 
hold  up  thy  head.  If  thou  hast  no  better  raiment, 
I  will  give  thee  my  fustian  breeches  and  liver- 
coloured  mantle,  as  well  as  a  good  sword  of  iron, 
which  I  have  to  spare." 

This  quick-spoken  and  benevolent  cavalier  was 
no  less  a  man  than  the  gallant  Don  Pedro  de  Al- 
varado,  at  this  time  called,  almost  universally,  in 
memory  of  his  famous  leap  over  the  ditch  of  Tacu- 
ba,  in  the  Night  of  Sorrow,  the  Capitan  del  Salto, 
He  gave  place  to  another  of  still  greater  renown, 
who  would  have  been  perhaps  the  first  to  extend 
his  hand,  had  he  been  as  hasty  of  resolution  as  his 
more  mercurial  comrade.  This  was  the  good 
cavalier  Don  Gonzalo  de  Sandoval,  better  esteemed 
for  his  skill  in  arms  than  any  peculiar  elegance  of 
conversation. 

"  Juan  Lerma,"  said  he, "  I  am  not  sorry  thou  art 
alive  and  well ;  and  if  thou  wilt  make  any  use  of 
the  same,  to  put  thee  into  more  Christian  bravery, 
I  will  pray  thee  to  take  my  gold  chain,  as  well  as 
six  good  cotton  shirts,  which  an  Indian  woman 
made  me." 

To  these  friendly  salutations  and  bountiful  offers, 
as  well  as  the  advances  of  other  cavaliers  who  now 
bustled  around  him,  Juan  replied  with  a  manner 
more  expressive  of  indignation  than  gratitude.  He 
was  ashamed  of  having  exposed  his  weakness,  and 
sensible  that  it  was  this  alone  which  had  obtained 
him  a  charitable  notice.  He  raised  his  head  proudly, 
as  one  who  would  not  accept  such  compelled  kind- 
ness, pushed  Befo  to  the  floor,  though  still  keeping 
a  hand  upon  his  neck,  acknowledged  the  presence 
of  Xicotencal  with  a  word,  and  turned  towards 
Cortes  a  countenance  now  quite  composed,  though 
not  without  a  touch  of  sorrowful  resentment. 

The  emotion  which  had  produced  such  an  im- 
pression among  the  cavaliers,  v/as  not  without  its 


84  THE  INFIDEL. 

effect  even  upon  the  Captain-Cicneral.  His  features 
relaxed  tlieir  angry  severity,  he  stepped  forwards  ; 
and  when  Juan  lifted  up  his  eyes,  he  beheld  a  hand 
extended  towards  him,  and  lieard  the  voice  of  Cortes 
say,  in  tones  of  concession,  though  of  embarrass- 
ment, 

"  God  be  with  you — you  do  us  wrong  in  this 
matter:  as  a  Christian  man  escaped  from  bondage, 
we  are  not  unrejoiced  to  see  you  :  as  a  soldier  re- 
turning from  a  delayed  duty,  we  will  declare  our 
thoughts  of  you  anon." 

There  was  nothing  very  gracious  eitlier  in  the 
words  or  tones  of  the  speaker ;  but  tiiey  were  un- 
expected. They  swept  away  the  proud  and  angry 
resolutions  of  Juan,  and  restored  to  iiim  the  warm 
feelings  of  affection  and  gratitude,  with  which  he 
had  ever  been  accustomed  to  regard  the  general. 
He  seized  the  proffered  hand,  pressed  it  to  his  lips, 
and  seemed  about  to  throw  himself  at  Don  Her- 
nan's  feet,  when  suddenly  a  noise  was  heard  at  a 
curtained  door  hard  by,  accompanied  by  what 
seemed  the  smothered  shriek  of  a  woman.  At  this 
sound  the  young  man  started  uji,  with  a  look  of 
fear,  and  yielded  up  the  hand  which  was  abruptly 
snatched  from  his  own.  He  gazed  round  him  and 
plainly  beheld  the  thick  cloth  before  the  nearest 
passage,  shaking,  as  if  disturbed  by  the  recent  pas- 
sage of  some  one, — but  nothing  else.  He  perceived 
no  new  countenance  added  to  those  of  the  many  in 
audience,  which  were  directed  upon  his  own,  with 
an  universal  stare  of  wonder.  His  attention  was 
recalled  by  the  voice  of  Cortes.  He  turned  ;  the 
general  was  seated ;  a  stern  and  iron  gravity  had 
taken  the  place  of  relenting  feeling  on  his  visage  ; 
and  it  was  evident  to  the  unfortunate  Juan,  that  the 
hour  of  reconciliation  had  passed  away,  and  for 
ever.  The  cavaliers  retreated, — the  Tlascalan  and 
the  dog  were  all  that  remained  by  his  side ;  and,  as 
if  to  make  his  disgrace  both  undeniable  and  intole- 


THE  INFIDEL.  85 

rable,  the  senor  Guzman  maintained,  throughout 
the  whole  scene,  his  post  at  the  general's  side,  con- 
fronted face  to  face  with  his  fallen  rival. 

"  We  are  ready  to  hear  thee,  Juan  Lerma,"  said 
the  Captain-General,  with  a  voice  at  once  cold  and 
commanding :  "  you  went  hence,  to  explore  the 
lands  of  the  west,  and  the  sea  that  rolls  among 
them.  We  argue  much  success,  and  great  disco- 
veries, from  the  time  devoted  to  these  purposes, 
and  from  the  discretion  you  evinced  in  pursuing 
them  for  a  whole  year  and  more,  rather  than  by 
returning  with  your  forces,  to  share  in  the  danger- 
ous fights  of  Mexico.  What  have  you  to  sayl 
You  had  some  good  followers,  both  Christian  and 
unconverted. — Stand  thou  aloof,  Gaspar  Olea!  I 
will  presently  speak  with  thee. — Hast  thou  brought 
none  back  with  thee  but  the  Barba-Roxa, — Gas- 
par  of  the  Red  Beard  ]" 

There  was  not  a  word  in  this  address  which  did 
not  sting  the  young  man  to  the  heart ;  and  the  in- 
sulting insinuation  which  a  portion  of  it  conveyed, 
was  uttered  in  a  tone  of  the  most  cutting  sarcasm. 
He  trembled,  reddened,  clenched  his  hand  in  the 
shaggy  coat  of  Befo, — who  still,  though  beckoned 
by  Cortes,  refused  to  leave  the  exile, — until  the  ani- 
mal whined  with  pain.  Then,  smothering  his  emo- 
tions, like  one  who  perceives  that  he  is  wronged,  and, 
knowing  that  complaint  will  be  unavailing,  is  reso- 
lute to  suffer  with  fortitude,  he  elevated  his  lofty 
figure  with  tranquil  dignity,  looked  upon  Cortes 
with  an  aspect  no  longer  reproachful,  and  replied, 

"  Besides  Gaspar,  who  is  worthy  of  your  excel- 
lency's confidence  and  thanks,  no  one  returns  with 
me  save  the  Ottomi,  Ocelotzin, — the  Tiger ;  a  man 
to  whom  should  be  accorded  the  praise  of  having 
saved  the  life  of  Gaspar,  which  is  valuable  to  your 
excellency,  and  my  own, — which  is  worthless." 

As  he  spoke,  he  pointed  to  the  ancient  barbarian, 
who   stepped  forward  with  the  same  affectionate 

VOL.  I.  8 


86  THE  INPIDEL. 

smiles  and  grimaces  which  he  had  bestowed  upon 
the  party  at  the  cyiiress-tree,  and  with  many  un- 
couth gestures  of  reverence,  saymg,  in  imperfect 
Castilian,  after  he  had  touched  the  floor  with  his 
hand,  and  then  kissed  it, 

"  Ottomi  I, — good  friend,  good  rascal ;  but  Oce- 
lotzin  no  more.  I  am  Techeechee,*  tlie  Silent  Dog, 
— the  little  dog  without  voice, — Techeechee  !" 

As  he  spoke,  he  cast  his  eyes,  with  less  of  love 
than  admiring  fear,  upon  the  gigantic  beast,  M'hose 
voice  was  to  him,  as  well  as  to  his  countrymen, 
more  terrible  than  the  yell  of  the  mountain  tiger. 

"  I  remember  thee,good  fellow,"  said  the  Captain- 
General. 

Then,  without  bestowing  any  further  present  no- 
tice on  him,  he  turned  again  to  Juan,  speaking  with 
the  same  cold  and  magisterial  tones  : 

"  And  where,  then,  are  the  two  Christians  of  La 
Mancha,  and  the  seventy  warriors  of  Matlatzinco, 
who  composed  your  party  ?  the  arms  you  carried  ! 
and  the  four  good  horses  entrusted  to  your 
charge  ]" 

"  Your  excellency  shall  hear,"  said  Juan,  calmly : 
"  The  two  Manchegos  were  ill  inclined  to  the  ex- 
pedition ;  and  therein  were  my  followers  but  unfor- 
tunately selected." 

"  They  were  mutineers  !"  cried  Caspar,  whose 
anger  was  not  mollified  by  being  made  a  witness 
to  the  ill  fate  of  his  young  captain :  "  they  were 
mutineers ;  and  so  the  devil  has  them." 

"  Hah  !"  exclaimed  Cortes,  starting  up,  with  what 
seemed  angry  joy  :  "  didst  thou  dare  arrogate  the 
privileges  of  a  judge,  and  condemn  a  Christian  man 
to  death  ?" 

"  I  am  guiltless  of  such  presumption,"  said  Juan. 
"  To  their  dissatisfaction,  to  their  disobedience, — 

*  Techichl — a  native  animal  of  the  dog  kind,  which  does 
not  bark.    It  was  domesticated. 


THE  INFIDEL.  87 

nay,  to  their  frequent  threats,  and  open  disregard 
of  the  commands  yom'  excellency  had  yourself  im- 
posed upon  us,  not  to  provoke  the  Indians  among 
whom  we  might  be  journeying, — I  adjudged  no 
punishment  but  the  assurance  that  your  excellency 
should  certainly  be  made  acquainted  with  their  acts. 
With  much  persuasion,  I  prevailed  upon  them  to 
follow  me,  until  we  had  reached  the  sea,  which  it 
was  your  excellency's  command  I  should  fii'st  exa- 
mine." 

"  Ay !"  said  Cortes,  again  starting  up,  but  with 
an  air  of  exultation ;  "  thou  hast  found  it  then  ]  and 
a  port  that  may  give  shelter  to  ships  of  burthen  7" 

"  Not  one  port  only,  but  many,"  said  Juan,  with 
a  faltering  voice,  mistaking  the  satisfaction  of  the 
leader  for  approbation.  "In  a  space  of  seventy 
leagues,  (for  so  much  of  the  coast  was  I  able  to 
survey,)  there  are  many  harbours,  exceedingly 
spacious,  deep  and  secure ;  and  some  of  such  ex- 
cellence, that  I  question  whether  the  world  contains 
any  others  to  equal  them.  Near  to  some,  there  is 
much  good  ship  timber,  as  well  as  lands  amazingly 
fertile  and  beautiful." 

"  This  is  well,"  said  the  Captain-General,  coldly. 
"  Thou  hast  well  devoted  a  year  of  time  to  the  ex- 
amination of  seventy  leagues  of  coast." 

"  Had  that  been  the  only  subject  of  your  excel- 
lency's orders,"  said  Lerma,  "you  should  have  had 
no  cause  for  dissatisfaction.  This  accomplished,  it 
became  me,  as  your  excellency  had  commanded, 
to  explore  those  gold  lands  to  the  northwest,  and 
discover  that  kingdom  of  Huitzitzila,  as  it  was  er- 
roneously called  by  Montezuma,  which  bordered 
upon  his  dominions,  and  had  ever  maintained  its 
independence  by  force  of  arms." 

At  these  words,  many  of  the  cavaliers  looked 
surprised,  as  if  made  acquainted  with  this  article 
of  Juan's  instructions  for  the  first  time,  and  some 


88  THE  DfFID-EL. 

exchanged  meaning  glances,  which  were  not  lost 
on  Cortes.     He  frowned,  and  hastilj''  exclaimed, 

"  You  are  wrong;  I  conwicmded  yonnot.  That 
kingdom  being  at  enmity  with  Mexico,  it  was  not 
fit  your  lives  sliould  he  endangered,  by  rashly  ad- 
venturing within  its  confines.  You  were  advised, 
if  you  should  find  we  had  been  deceived  in  the 
character  of  those  infidels  of  Huitzitzila,  to  make 
yourself  acquainted  with  them  and  their  country : 
but  tliis  was  left  to  your  discretion." 

"  It  is  true,"  said  Juan  mildly,  "  your  excellency 
did  so  advise  me;  and  the  fault  which  I  committed 
was  in  thinking  that  I  should  best  please  you,  by 
penetrating  to  that  land,  without  much  thought  of 
difficulty  or  danger.  In  this,  as  in  other  things,  as 
Caspar  will  be  my  witness,  I  was  opposed  by  those 
unhappy  Manchegos ;  who  deserted  from  me  in  the 
night,  carrying  with  them,  (to  replace  a  horse  which 
they  had  lost  in  a  river,)  the  charger  which  your 
excellency  had  given  to  me  for  my  own  riding, — as 
well  as  their  arquebuses, — which  was  still  more 
unfortunate ;  for  Gaspares  piece  had  been  broken 
by  a  fall,  and  we  were  thus  left  without  firearms, 
with  but  one  horse,  and  no  better  weapon  to  pro- 
cure us  food,  than  mine  own  crossbow,  and  tlie  ar- 
rows of  the  Matlatzincos." 

"  Now,  by  my  conscience,"  said  Cortes,  "  I  know 
not  which  the  more  to  admire, — the  good  vigilance 
that  allowed  these  knaves  to  escape,  or  the  rash- 
brained  folly  which  led  you  to  continue  the  expedi- 
tion without  them !" 

The  sarcasm  produced  no  change  in  Juan's 
visage.  He  seemed  to  have  made  up  his  mind  not 
only  to  endure  injustice,  but  to  expect  it. 

"  Their  desertion  was  neither  unforeseen  nor  un- 
opposed," he  answered.  "  It  is  my  grief  to  say,  that 
they  forgot  the  obligations  both  of  discipline  and 
Christianity,   and   desperately  fired   upon  Gaspar 


THE  INFIDEL.  89 

and  myself;   whereby  they  killed  our  remaining 
horse,  and  wounded  myself  in  the  side." 

"  And  where  then  were  thy  knavish  Indians,  that 
thou  didst  not  slay  the  false  traitors  on  the  spot!" 
cried  Cortes,  with  an  indignation,  which,  this  time, 
had  the  right  direction. 

The  answer  to  this  added  but  another  item  of 
mischance  to  the  young  man's  story.  The  arts  of 
the  Manchegos  had  spread  disaffection  among  his 
Indian  followers,  many  of  whom  had  deserted  with 
them.  Following  after  the  mutineers,  he  was, 
shortly  after,  abandoned  by  the  rest;  and  then 
his  little  party,  consisting  only  of  Caspar  and  the 
Ottomi,  was  attacked,  by  hostile  tribes,  driven  back 
upon  the  path,  and  finally  forced  to  take  refuge  in 
the  dominions  of  that  native  monarch,  whose  re- 
puted grandeur  and  wealth  had  so  long  since  ex- 
cited the  curiosity  of  Don  Hernan. 

The  relation  of  Lerma,  though  of  such  thrilling 
interest  that  it  absorbed  the  attention  of  all  present, 
and  even  so  wrought  upon  the  mind  of  Cortes,  that 
he  gradually  discharged  the  severity  of  his  counte- 
nance, and  even  at  last  ceased  altogether  to  interrupt 
it  with  sarcasm  or  commentary  of  any  kind,  has  too 
little,  or  at  least  too  indirect  a  connexion  with  the 
present  history,  to  require  it  to  be  given  in  the  exile's 
words,  or  at  any  length.  With  the  main  facts, — his 
long  captivity  and  final  escape, — the  reader  is  already 
acquainted;  and  it  is  not  perhaps  necessary  to  add 
more  than  that  the  kingdom  of  which  so  much  has 
been  said,  was  that  of  Mechoacan,  and  that  its 
capital  Tzintzontzan,  (the  Place  of  Hummingbirds,) 
corrupted  by  the  Mexicans  into  Huitzitzila,  lies  yet, 
though  dwindled  into  the  meanest  of  villages,  upon 
the  beautiful  lake  Pascuaro.  Juan  knew  nothing  of 
the  fate  of  the  Manchegos.  By  a  comparison  of 
dates,  it  was  discovered  that  the  sudden  outbreak- 
ing of  hostilities,  which  had  driven  him  into  this  re- 
mote land,  had  followed  almost  immediately  upon 

8* 


90  THE  INFIDEL. 

the  tumults  In  Mexico,  which  had  resulted  In  the 
death  of  Montezuma  and  the  expulsion  of  the  Spa- 
niards ;  and  it  was  not  doubted,  that  the  mutineers 
had  met  a  miserable  and  speedy  death.  With  the 
account  of  lands  of  unexampled  beauty  and  fertility, 
of  rivers  of  gold  and  hills  of  silver,  we  have  no- 
thinsr  to  do,  except  to  remark  that  it  determined 
the  fate  of  Mechoacan  as  certainly  as  if  tlie  order 
had  been  uttered  for  its  immediate  subjugation.  The 
whole  account  might  have  been  omitted,  except  tliat 
it  was  necessary,  as  the  means  of  explaining  some 
of  the  feelings  with  which  the  young  Lerma  was  re- 
garded by  the  general  and  his  chief  followers. 

There  is  no  eloquence  so  persuasive  as  that  of 
distress,  uttered  without  complaint ;  and  no  story 
of  hardship  and  peril  fails  of  exciting  sympathy, 
when  recounted  with  truth  and  modesty.  Accord- 
ingly, the  narrative  of  the  exile  produced  among 
the  cavaliers  a  powerful  impression  in  his  favour, 
which  was  heightened  into  admiration  by  the  con- 
sciousness that  nothing  but  the  greatest  constancy 
of  purpose,  and  mental  resources  beyond  those  of 
ordinary  men,  could  have  conducted  him  through  his 
long  and  perilous  enterprise.  Many  of  those,  ^\'ho 
seemed  to  remember  with  most  interest  the  breach 
between  the  general  and  one  who  had  been  for- 
merly considered  almost  his  adopted  son,  kept 
their  eyes  curiously  bent  on  Cortes ;  and  they  did 
not  doubt,  from  the  changes  of  his  countenance, 
that  his  better  feelings  were  deeply  engaged,  and 
would  perhaps  restore  the  young  man  to  the  con- 
fidence and  affection  which  all  knew  he  had  lost. 
This  belief  became  universal,  when,  at  the  close  of 
the  story,  the  Captain-General  arose,  and  addressing 
the  throng,  said, 

"  Cavaliers  and  friends,  we  will  free  all  present 
from  the  tedium  of  this  audience,  saving  only  the 
gentlemen  of  the  Secret  Counsel,  and  these  our  re- 
turned friends. — Nay,  by  my  faith,  Gaspar  of  the 


THE  INFIDEL.  91 

Red  Beard,  thou  mayst  depart  likewise,  to  speak 
thy  adventui'es  to  thine  old  friends,  which  thou  art 
doubtless  itching  to  do  ;  or,  if  thou  likest  that  better, 
get  thee  to  Antonio  de  Q^uinones,  our  Master  of  the 
Armory,  and  choose  thyself  a  good  sword,  buckler 
and  breastplate.  Thou  art  a  true  soldier,  and,  by 
and  by,  I  have  somewhat  to  say  to  thee. — The 
knave  has  the  gait  of  an  infidel !" 

At  this  signal  for  breaking  up  the  audience, 
which  was  pronounced  with  the  grave  and  easy 
authoritativeness  of  one  long  accustomed  to  com- 
mand, the  individuals  present,  Christian  and  hea- 
then, princes,  chieftains,  and  cavaliers,  took  their 
departure,  leaving  behind  them  Sandoval,  Alvarado, 
and  a  few  other  officers  of  high  standing. 

As  Juan  stood,  embarrassed  between  hope  and 
doubt,  the  senor  Guzman  descended  from  the  plat- 
form, and,  passing  him,  said  with  a  low  voice  and 
a  derisive  smile, 

"  You  mount,  seiior,  and  Bobadil  neighs  for 
you !  It  is  better — the  war  is  equal." 

So  saying,  he  passed  on. 


92  THE  INFIDEL. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


*'  Senor  Juan  Lerma,"  said  Cortes,  wlien  the  last 
of  tlie  assemblage  had  reluctantly  departed  : — He 
had  descended  fi-om  the  platfinm,  and  spoke  with 
a  voice,  which,  if  not  decidedly  friendly,  was,  at 
least,  free  from  every  trace  of  sternness  : — "  Seiior 
Juan  Lerma,  I  have  to  say,  that  for  the  result  of 
your  enterprise,  however  it  has  been  attended  by 
calamity,  you  deserve  both  thanks  and  honours ; 
and  it  will  rest  upon  your  own  determination  whe- 
ther you  shall  obtain  them  or  not.  Some  things 
there  are,  growing  out  of  this  affair,  of  which  it  be- 
comes me  to  speak ;  and  thereby  I  shall  give  you 
an  opportunity  to  remove  certain  stains  not  yet 
washed  from  your  good  name ;  and  after  that,  to 
take  off  others  that  are  thought  to  attach  to  mine. 
Hast  thou  not  heard  of  those  fierce  and  fatal  wars, 
that  broke  out  in  Mexico  shortly  after  thy  depar- 
ture." 

"  I  have,"  said  Juan  ;  "  the  king's  spies  brought 
the  news  to  Tzintzontzan  ;  and  they  were  not  only 
lamentable  to  hear,  but  they  caused  us  to  be  cast 
into  cages,  and  devoted,  as  we  feared,  to  die  the 
death  of  sacrifice :  For  know,  seiTor,  the  sanguina- 
ry Mexitli  is  the  god  of  all  this  land." 

"  And  hadst  thou  no  suspicion,  before  departing, 
that  these  wars  were  brewing,  and  threatening  us 
with  destruction]  Thou  wert  somewhat  quicker  in 
catching  the  heathen  tongue  than  others,  and  wert 
not  without  counsellors  and  friends  even  among 
the  household  of  Montezuma." 

To  this  demand,  the  young  man,  though  embar- 


THE  INFIDEL. 


9d 


rassed  by  the  innuendo  that  followed  it,  did  not 
hesitate  to  answer : 

"  I  had  such  suspicions,  and  I  made  them  known 
to  your  excellency." 

"  You  did  indeed,"  said  Cortes,  musingly  ;  "  and 
I  derided  them,  being  somewhat  heated  at  the  time : 
but  counsel  to  an  irritated  temper  is  even  sharper 
than  salt  on  a  wounded  skin. — This  knowledge, 
seiior,"  he  went  on,  "  some  will  impute  to  thee  as 
good  reason  why  thou  shouldst  loiter  fourteen 
months  in  the  wilderness,  to  avoid  sharing  in  our 
perils,  which  were  somewhat  more  horrible  than 
have  ever  before  beset  Christian  men." 

"  This,"  said  Juan,  firmly,  and  a  little  dryly,  for 
there  was  something  in  the  tone  of  the  speaker, 
which,  though  he  knew  not  why,  impressed  him 
unpleasantly, — "  this  is  to  make  me  a  coward, 
which  your  excellency  will  not  believe  me  to  be." 

"  By  my  conscience,  no  !"  said  Cortes,  with  em- 
phasis. "  Without  much  thought  of  this  present 
expedition  of  which  we  speak,  there  is  no  man  will 
accuse  thee  of  fear,  who  has  heard  of  thy  voyage 
in  the  fusta.  By  my  conscience,  a  most  mad  piece 
of  daring !"  he  continued  as  if  in  admiration,  al- 
though it  was  observable,  that,  while  he  spoke,  his 
countenance  darkened,  as  though  there  were  some 
disagreeable  thought  associated  with  the  recollec- 
tion. "  No,"  he  went  on,  "  there  will  be  more  said 
of  anger  and  ambition  than  of  terror.  Thou  know- 
est,  we  have  envy  and  detraction  about  us,  that 
spare  none.  I  can  hear,  already,  how  Villafana 
and  other  knaves  of  his  peevish,  malicious  temper, 
will  speak  of  thee. — They  will  speak  of  thy  causes 
for  resentment,  of  the  promised  favour  of  the  plot- 
ting king,  a  principality  among  the  lakes,  with  the 
hope  of  loftier  succession,  and  the  hand  of  the 
princely  Maiden  of  the  Star, " 

"  And  this,"  cried  Juan,  interrupting  the  gene- 
ral, "  this  is  to  make  me  a  traitor  and  apostate  i 


94  THE  INFIDEL. 

Senor,  I  doubt  not  tliat  tho  soitor  Guzman  is  at  the 
bottom  of  all  this  slander:  and  I  therefore  claim  to 
defie,— " 

"  Peace!  wilt  thou  put  thyself  in  opposition  aofainl 
If  thou  dost  but  raise  thy  haml  in  wrath,  save 
against  an  infidel  enemy,  tiiou  wert  better  never 
to  have  been  Ijorn  !" 

The  sudden  sternness  with  which  these  words 
wore  uttered,  checked  the  impetuosity  of  the  youth, 
and  filled  him  ajOfain  with  anxious  forebodings.  The 
general,  instantly  resuming  the  milder  tones  with 
which  he  had  spoken  before,  continued, 

"  So  much  will  be  said  of  thee.  Before  I  offer  thee 
my  hand,  in  token  that  I  desire  to  forget  everything 
of  the  past,  but  that  I  once  truly  loved  thee,  and 
before  1  propose  to  thee  a  new  and  honourable 
duty, — hear, — not  what  will  l)e,  but  what  has  been 
said  of  my  self y  in  relation  to  thine  expedition  and  to 
thee." 

Here  the  general  paused  a  moment,  eyeing  the 
youth  intently,  as  if  to  read  his  most  secret 
thoughts ;  then  continuing,  he  said,  with  the  utmost 
gravity, 

"  It  has  been  said  of  me,  seiior  Juan  Lerma,  that 
I  sent  thee  upon  thy  enterprise  of  the  South  Seas, 
in  the  malicious  thought  that  the  blow  of  savages 
might  execute  the  sentence  of  vengeance  I  cared 
not  to  commit  to  a  Christian  assassin.  What 
thinkest  thou  of  this  ]" 

"  Even  that  it  is  the  blackest  and  insanest  of 
slanders ;  and  that  it  shows  me,  I  have  little  cause 
to  marvel  at  my  own  loss  of  credit,  when  I  find 
that  malice  can  aim  even  at  your  excellency's. 
Whatever  may  have  been  your  anger,  I  never  be- 
lieved your  excellency  would  conceal  it,  much  less 
expend  it,  in  secret  vengeance  upon  a  feeble  wretch 
like  myself" 

"  Thou  hast  but  little  worldly  knowledge,"  said 
the  Captain-General,  half  smiling,  "  or  thou  wouldst 


THE  INFIDEL.  9& 

know,  that  revenge  is  of  a  reptile's  nature,  crawling 
rather  in  secret  among  dark  thickets  than  openly 
over  sunny  plains,  and  none  the  less  venomous, 
that  it  can  lie  half  a  year  torpid.  Neither  put  thou 
much  trust  in  innocent  looks;  which,  to  a  shrewd 
eye,  are  like  sea-water, — the  smoother  they  lie, 
the  deeper  can  they  be  looked  into." 

Having  pronounced  these  metaphorical  maxims 
with  much  gravity,  his  eye  all  the  time  bent  on  the 
youth,  Cortes  paused  for  a  moment,  as  if  for  a  re- 
ply ;  when,  receiving  none,  for,  in  truth,  Juan,  not 
well  comprehending  them,  knew  not  what  to  an- 
swer, he  continued, 

"  Let  us  understand  one  another.  There  has 
been  strife  between  us, — strife  and  ill-will.  I  have 
perhaps  done  you  injustice  :  I  thought  I  had  cause. 
By  my  conscience,  young  man,  I  once  loved  you 
very  well — I  have  been  sorry  for  you." 

"  I  have  deserved  your  displeasure,"  said  Juan, 
hurriedly,  moved  by  the  earnestness  with  which 
the  general  spoke ;  "  but,  I  hope,  not  beyond  for- 
giveness." 

"  Surely  not,  surely  not,"  said  Cortes ;  "  but  what 
I  may  forget  as  thy  friend,  I  am  still  bound  to  con- 
sider as  thy  general.  I  am  now  the  king's  officer, 
and  it  becomes  me,  forgetting  all  private  feelings, 
to  know  no  friends  but  those  who  approve  them- 
selves true  and  valuable  servants  of  his  majesty. 
In  this  character,  I  must  remember  some  of  thy 
past  acts  with  disfavour ;  but  in  both,  it  is  not  im- 
proper I  should  desire  thou  shouldst  have  opportu- 
nity fully  to  retrieve  thy  good  name,  and,  in  spite  of 
envy  and  detraction,  to  deserve  such  friendship  as 
I  have  shown  thee  in  former  years." 

The  exile  pondered  a  moment  over  the  words  of 
the  general,  in  more  indecision  than  before.  They 
spoke  of  friendship  and  kindness,  and  seemed  to 
offer  an  apology  for  severity  that  was  rather  offi- 
cial than  personal ;  and  yet,  in  this  apology,  was  a 


96  THE  INFIDEL. 

de|9n*ee  of  reproach,  of  which  it  appeared  Cortes's 
resolution  to  keep  liim  always  sensible.  Neverthe- 
less, this  very  tone  of  complaint  served  to  soothe 
the  little  exasperation  of  feelincrs  which  had  remained 
in  Juan's  breast,  while  smarting  under  a  sense  of 
wroncr  and  injustice.  Anuer  botli  irritates  and  har- 
dens the  heart ;  reproach  softens,  while  it  distresses. 
It  seemed  obvious  to  Juan,  that  Cortes,  while  ap- 
prizing him  that  a  full  reconciliation  had  not  yet 
taken  place,  was  willing,  nay  anxious,  that  it 
should.  He  answered  therefore  with  the  greatest 
fervour, 

"  If  your  excellency  will  but  show  me  in  what 
manner  I  may  regain  your  favour — at  least  your 
belief  that  1  have  not  wantonly  rejected  it — I  call 
heaven  to  witness,  I  will  remember  it  as  such  an 
act  of  kindness  as  that  which  this  must  ever  keep 
me  in  memory  of" 

As  he  spoke,  he  touched  with  his  finger  a  ra- 
pier-scar on  his  right  breast,  which  the  narrowness 
and  peculiar  fashion  of  his  mantle  scarcely  enabled 
him  to  conceal,  even  when  so  disposed. 

At  this  sight,  Cortes  seemed  disordered,  if  not 
ofl'ended,  saying  after  striding  to  and  fro  for  an 
instant, 

"  Let  these  follies  be  forgotten  !  Bury  the  past, 
and  think  only  of  the  future.  It  is  true,  I  avenged 
thy  wrong — It  gives  me  no  pleasure  to  remember 
it. — Did  I  think  this,  when  I  made  thee  my  son, — 
fed  thee  at  my  board,  lodged  thee  on  my  couch, 
advanced  thee,  honoured  thee,  fought  thy  battles  ] 
did  I  think  this  ?  Pho  !  Juan  Lernui,  thou  ha.st  not 
repaid  me  well !" 

"  Seilor  !"  said  Juan,  surprised  and  confounded 
by  the  sudden  and  reproachful  bitterness  of  these 
words ;  "  when  1  presumed  to  speak  to  you  in  op- 
position to  your  measures,  it  was  with  the  bold- 
ness— the  folly — of  affection,  jealous  for  your  excel- 
lency's— your  excellency's — " 


THE  INFIDEL.  97 

*'  Honour !"  said  Cortes,  sharply.  "  Let  us  speak 
of  this  no  more.  To  business,  seiior,  to  business. 
Leave  mine  honour  to  mine  own  keeping :  tliou 
wilt  find,  I  have  it  even  in  my  thoughts.  To 
business,  to  business.  V/hat  say  ye,  Councillors  T 
— Wilt  thou  truly  steal  my  dog  from  me  1  If  you 
rob  me  of  naught  else,  it  is  no  matter. — What  say 
you,  seiior  Capitan  Del  Salto  ]  wiiat  say  you,  San- 
doval 1  Is  this  young  man  fit  to  be  entrusted  with 
a  captain's  command  ?  He  was  a  good  Cornet. — 
Can  we  confide  to  him  a  duty  of  danger  and  trust  1 
His  pilgrimage  to  the  Hummingbird-land,  methinks, 
was  well  conducted.  What  say  you]  I  have  a 
goodly  thought  for  him — But  I  will  abide  your  bet- 
ter judgment." 

"  By  St.  James,"  said  Alvarado,  "  there  is  no 
braver  lad  in  the  army;  and  were  he  but  of  clear 
hidalgo  lineage,  I  should  say,  give  him  a  command 
with  the  best.  But  here  is  my  thought :  he  is  a 
good  sailor,  especially  in  piraguas  and  galleys :  give 
him  a  brigantine.  I  will  crave  to  have  him  in  the 
squadron  attached  to  mine  own  division." 

"  In  my  mind,"  said  Sandoval,  *'  he  is  good  for 
the  land  service.  It  is  needful  we  revenge  the 
death  of  Salcedo  and  his  eighty  loons,  who  suffered 
themselves  to  be  killed  before  Tochtepec.  Lerma 
has  the  love  of  the  dog  Xicotencal,  who  loves  no- 
body else.  He  can  follow  the  young  senor,  with 
some  twenty  thousand  or  so  of  his  bare-legs  ;  and 
they  can  take  the  town  among  them." 

"A  good  thought,"  said  Cortes,  "  a  good  thought: 
for  this  is  a  command  which,  nobody  coveting, 
there  will  be  none  to  envy.  What  sayst  thou, 
senor  Lerma  ]  wilt  thou  adventure  upon  a  deed 
thought  to  be  both  dangerous  and  desperate  1 
Choose  for  thyself:  I  will  compel  thee  to  nothing. 
I  tell  thee  the  truth. — No  captain  seeks  after  this 
employment,  and  three  have  refused,  except  upon 
condition  that  I  give  them,  besides  as  many  Indians 

VOL.  I.  9 


98  THE  INFIDEL. 

as  tho}'^  can  raise,  throo  Inmdred  picked  Spaniards. 
Thou  canst  not  look  for  more  than  twenty,  witli 
some  five  or  six  horsemen." 

The  eyes  of  tlie  exik^  sparkled. 

"  Your  excellency  honours  me." 

"  Never  think  so ;  deceive  not  thyself,"  said 
Cortes,  with  apparent  frankness.  "  The^terprise 
is  dangerous,  nay,  as  I  have  said,  desperate  ;  and 
by  my  conscience,  it  will  be  said  of  it,  as  of  the 
South  Sea  journey,  that  it  is  devised  for  thy  ruin. 
— If  I  honour  thee,  I  must  suffer  thereljy  :  no  evil 
can  happen  to  thee,  that  will  not  be  maliciously  im- 
puted to  wicked  and  premeditated  design.  By  my 
conscience,  there  are  many  who  think  me  but  a 
hangman  in  disguise !" 

"  I  hope  your  excellency  will  not  think  of  these 
things,"  said  Juan,  fervently.  "  I  will  do  battle 
with  any  one  who  presumes — " 

"  Peace  :  have  I  not  told  thee  already  that  the 
duel  is  forbidden  under  heavy  penalties  1  I  swear 
to  thee,  they  shall  be  enforced,  in  all  cases  of  diso- 
bedience, were  it  upon  my  own  brother. — I  tell  thee 
again,  1  can  advance  thee  to  no  service  which  wDl 
not  make  me  the  mark  of  slander.  There  are  fools 
about  us,  who,  I  know  not  why,  have  tortured  an- 
ger into  hatred,  and  will  now  interpret  good-will 
into  malignant  treachery.  But  I  care  not  for  this : 
the  tall  tree  catches  the  bolts  that  pass  by  the  un- 
derw^ood, — the  rock  that  rises  above  the  sea,  is 
lashed  by  breakers,  while  the  grovellers  at  the  bot- 
tom lie  in  tranquillity.  It  is  thus  with  the  condi- 
tion of  man  ; — peace  abides  with  the  lowly,  envy 
shoots  arrows  at  the  high.  Think  of  this,  think 
of  this,  Juan  Lernia,  wlicii  Ihou  hearest  me  ma- 
ligned." 

"I  shall  not  need,"  said  Juan.  "The  more  dan- 
gerous the  duty,  the  more  must  I  thank  your  ex- 
cellency for  your  confidence.     I  beseech,  therefore,. 


THE  INFIDEL.  99 

tliat  I  may  be  permitted  to  undertake  this  present 
enterprise." 

"  Wilt  thou  march  them  on  foot,  and  with  no  bet- 
ter arms  than  thy  Indian  battle-axe  and  buckler  !" 
demanded  the  general,  gravely. 

"  I  have  heard,"  said  Juan,  with  hesitation,  "  that 
your  excellency  has  in  charge  certain  horses  and 
arms,  which  of  right  are  mine,  as  being  the  gifts  of 
a  bountiful  friend." 

"  It  is  even  so,"  said  Cortes,  "  and  the  restora- 
tion of  them,  which  thou  canst  justly  claim,  will 
cause  some  heart-burnings.  I  must  crave  your 
pardon  for  having  presumed  to  bestow  them  away, 
as  though  they  had  been  mine  own  property." 

"  Under  your  favour,"  said  Juan,  "  considering 
that  they  w^ere  the  gifts  of  your  excellency's  ever 
honoured  and  beloved  lady — " 

"  Ha  !"  cried  Cortes^  with  a  darkening  visage, 
"  what  fiend  possessed  thee  with  this  impertinent 
conceit  1" 

"  I  beg  your  excellency's  pardon  for  my  pre- 
sumption," said  Juan,  "  which  was  indeed  caused 
no  more  by  rumour  than  by  a  belief  that  there  was 
no  other  being  in  the  world,  who  could  thus  far 
have  befriended  me." 

"  Why  then,"  said  Cortes,  "  if  thou  knowest  not 
the  donor,  it  is  the  more  remarkable ;  for  nobody 
else  does.  Very  strange  !  Two  horses,  the  worst 
of  which  is  w^orth  full  nine  hundred  crowns,  and 
Bobadil  almost  priceless ; — a  suit  of  armour  so  well 
chosen  to  thy  stature,  that  never  a  man  of  us  all 
but  is  as  loose  in  the  cuirass  as  a  shrivelled  walnut 
in  the  shell, — all  very  positively  sent  to  thee  from 
Santiago, — for  thee,  seiior,  and  for  nobody  else  !" 

"  They  are  saint's  gifts,"  said  Alvarado,  devoutly: 
"  the  young  man-has  suffered  much,  and  has  found 
favour  with  heaven." 

"  Seiior,"  said  Juan,  mildly,  "  you  are  jesting  with 
me.     I  will  hope,  by  and  by,  to  discover  this  bene- 


1<M 


THE  INFIDEL. 


volent  patron.  What  I  have  to  say  now,  Is  that 
my  wants  will  be  content  with  but  one  of  the 
horses ;  the  return  of  which  will  cause  your  excel- 
lency no  trouble, — the  same  beinjj  in  the  hands  of 
the  senor  Guzman,  who  lias  already  signified  his 
intention  to  restore  him." 

*'  Ha  !  has  he  so,  indeed  1  Why  thy  very  enemies 
have  become  thy  friends  !" 

"  As  for  the  armour,  senor,"  continued  the  youth, 
without  thinking  fit  to  notice  the  latter  exclama- 
tion, "  I  will  make  no  claim  to  it,  if  you  have  be- 
stowed it  away.  A  simple  morion  and  breastplate, — 
or  indeed  a  good  cap  and  doublet  of  escaupil,  if 
iron  be  scarce, — will  content  me,  provided  I  have 
but  a  good  sword  and  steed." 

•'  Thou  shalt  have  both,"  said  Cortes,  "  and  the 
plate-mail  also ;  which  being  somewhat  too  gigan- 
tic for  any  cavalier,  and  too  good  for  a  common 
soldier,  I  have  preserved,  thinking  some  day  to  be- 
stow it  upon  the  Tlascalan  Xicotencal. — Thou  art 
not  loath  to  undertake  this  business  1  I  will  give 
thee  a  day  to  think  of  it." 

"Not  an  hour,  sefior,"  said  Juan,  ardently. 
"  Give  me  but  time  to  excliange  these  heathen 
weeds  and  sandals  for  good  armour  and  a  war- 
horse,  and  I  will  depart  instantly,  with  whatsoever 
force  you  may  think  fit  to  entrust  to  me." 

"  Art  thou  really,  then,  so  hot  after  danger  1" 

"  God  is  my  protection,"  said  Juan ;  "  I  thank 
heaven,  that  this  duty  is  the  most  dangerous  your 
excellency  could  charge  me  with :  it  is,  for  that  rea- 
son, the  most  honoui'al)le." 

"  Sayst  thou  so  ?"  cried  the  Captain-General, 
quickly.  "  There  is  one  duty,  at  least,  I  could  im- 
pose upon  thee,  which  thou  wouldst  not  be  so  hasty 
to  accept  ]  No,  faith  ;  for  the  very  name  of  it  has 
caused  the  boldest  soldier  in  the  army  to  turn  pale. 
— Get  thee  to  the  armory ;  rest  and  refresh  thyself: 
to-morrow  thou  shalt  to  Tochtepec." 


•     THE  IITPIDBL.  101 

"  Seiior,  for  your  love  I  will  do  what  others  will 
not :  I  have  years  of  benefaction  to  repay.  I  claim 
to  be  appointed  to  that  task  which  is  so  dreadful  to 
others." 

"By  my  conscience,  no,"  said  Don  Hernan: 
"  this  would  be  sending  thee  to  execution  indeed. 
And  yet  I  know  none  so  well  fitted  as  thyself: 
Thou  art  fearless,  cunning,  discreet, — at  least  thou 
canst  be  so ;  and  thou  art  a  master  of  the  barba- 
rous language,  I  think!" 

"  Your  excellency  once  commended  the  success 
with  which  I  laboured  to  acquire  it :  my  year's 
wanderings  in  the  west  hava  made  it  familiar  to 
me  almost  as  the  tongue  of  Castile." 

"  It  is  a  good  endowment,"  said  Cortes.  "  What 
thinkest  thou  of  an  embassage  to  Tenochtitlan  V 

As  he  spoke,  pronouncing  each  word  with  deli- 
berate emphasis,  he  bent  his  eyes  searchingly  on 
Juan,  and  a  smile  crept  over  his  features,  as  he  per- 
ceived the  young  man  lose  colour  and  start. 

"  The  man  that  Would  do  me  that  duty,"  he  con- 
tinued, gravely,  "  would  indeed  deserve  well,  not 
only  of  myself,  teut  of  his  majesty,  the  king  of  Spain. 
But  think  not  I  mean  to  overtask  thee, — or  that  I 
seriously  designed  to  try  thee  with  this  rack  of  pro- 
bation.— There  are  bounds  to  the  courage  of  us 
all." 

"  Your  excellency  mistakes  me,"  said  Juan,  dis- 
pelling all  emotion  with  a  single  effort,  and  speak- 
ing with  a  voice  as  firm  as  it  was  serious  :  "  if  there 
be  but  one  good  can  come  of  such  an  embassy — " 

"  There  might  be  many'"'  said  the  general,  "  not 
the  least  of  which  would  be  the  conquest  of  the  city, 
and  thereby  of  the  whole  land,  without  the  loss  of 
Christian  lives.  Could  I  but  find  speech  with  the 
prince  Guatimozin,  I  have  that  which  will  move  him 
to  peaceful  submission.     But  this  is  impossible." 

"  Again  your  excellency  is  deceived,"  said  Juan, 
with  the  composure  of  one  who  has  taken  his  reso- 

9* 


103  THE   INFIDEL. 

liition.  "  I  will  do  your  bidding, — I  will  can*y  your 
message  to  Mexico." 

"  Pho  !  I  did  but  jest  with  thee.  Three  Indian 
env^oys  have  I  sent  already  :  the  infidel  slew  them 
aU." 

"  And  cannot  your  excellency  answer  why  ? 
Your  envoys  were  Indians, — your  exceilencj-'s  al- 
lies, but  his  subjects,  who,  in  the  act  of  alliance,  had 
committed  the  crimes  of  treason  and  rebellion ;  for 
which  he  punished  them  with  death,  as  seemed  to 
him  right  and  just.  A  Spanish  ambassador  would 
be  received  with  greater  respect,  and  perhaps  dis- 
missed without  injury.  I  will  not,  with  a  boastful 
vanity,  proclaim  that  I  fear  nothing ;  but  such  fears 
as  I  have,  are  not  enough  to  deter  me ;  and  again 
I  say,  I  wiU  do  your  bidding." 

"  My  bidding  !"  cried  Cortes ;  "  I  bid  thee  not ; 
heaven  forfend  I  should  bid  thee  any  such  thing. 
But  if  thou  really  thinkest  the  danger  is  not  great, — 
if  thou  art  so  persuaded — "  He  paused ;  his  eyes 
sparkled ;  he  strode  to  and  fro  in  disorder.  Then 
suddenly  halting,  he  exclaimed,  with  a  faint  laugh, 
"  No,  by  my  conscience  !  no,  by  heaven  !  no,  by  St. 
James  of  Compostella !  thou  art  the  bravest  fool  of 
all,  but  thou  shalt  not  die  the  death  of  a  dog !  I  will 
not  catch  thee  with  tiger-traps !" 

To  these  extraordinary  expressions,  Juan  an- 
swered with  emotion,  but  still  with  unvarying  reso- 
lution, 

"  I  wait  your  excellency's  orders.  I  fear  not 
death ;  I  am  alone  in  the  world  ; — father  or  mother, 
brother  or  sister,  kinsman  or  friend,  there  is  not 
one  to  lament  me,  should  I  come  to  disaster.  If  I 
live,  I  will,  as  your  excellency  has  said,  have  saved 
the  effusion  of  Christian  blood ;  if  I  die,  heaven  will 
remember  the  motive,  and  none  will  miss  me. — I 
will  go  to  Tenochtitlan." 

"  Thou  art  a  fool,"  said  Alvarado.     «  Seuor  Cap- 


THE  INFIDEL.  .    103 

tain-General,  this  embassy  may  not  be ;  I  protest 
against  it.     The  world  will  cry  shame  on  us." 

"  I  do  oppose  the  same,"  said  Sandoval,  "  as  be- 
ing the  wilful  throwing  away  of  a  Christian  life." 

The  other  cavaliers  present  were  about  to  add 
their  voices  against  the  measure,  when  Cortes  cut 
them  short  by  saying,  sternly, 

"  Are  ye  all  mad,  senores  ]  Think  ye,  this  thing 
was  said  seriously  1  I  did  but  try  the  young  man's 
mettle,  and  I  do  think  he  hath  somewhat  less  of 
gaingiving  about  him,  as  well  as  much  more  folly, 
than  any  one  here  present.  I  must  get  me  an  am- 
bassador ;  but,  Juan  Lerma,  thou  art  not  the 
man." 

"  To  my  thought,"  said  Sandoval,  "  this  old  In- 
dian, Ocelotzin,  will  be  a  much  safer  emissary." 

Apparently  the  Ottomi,  who  had  listened  through- 
out the  whole  conference  with  great  attention,  and 
who  understood  just  enough  of  it  to  know  the  course 
that  affairs  were  taking,  did  not  at  all  relish  the 
suggestion  of  Sandoval.  He  started,  flung  the  gray 
curtain  of  hair  from  his  visage,  and  began  to  pour 
forth  a  torrent  of  such  objurgations  and  remon- 
strances as  he  could  find  Spanish  to  express : 

"  I  am  not  Ocelotzin,  the  Tiger,"  he  exclaimed ; 
"  very  weak  and  old  I  am, — no  claw,  no  tooth,  no 
roar." — ^d  here  the  barbarian,  by  way  of  con- 
firming his  speech,  set  up  a  yell,  so  wild,  shrill,  and 
hideous,  that  the  cavaliers  started  back,  catching 
at  their  swords  in  alarm,  and  two  or  three  soldiers 
from  the  ante-room  rushed  in,  as  if  apprehending 
some  act  of  treason.  But  the  dog  Befo,  who  had 
hitherto  maintained  his  post  at  the  feet  of  Lerma, 
now  rubbing  against  his  knees,  now  rearing 
against  his  breast,  and  sometimes,  when  pushed 
down  and  too  long  neglected,  expressing  his  impa- 
tience or  affection,  by  extending  his  vast  jaws,  as  if 
to  swallow  the  hand  that  repelled  him, — the  dog 


104  THE   INFIDEL. 

Bofn  hoard  the  cry  of  the  .sava^o  with  siirli  indicr- 
nntioii  as  he  would  liavo  bcstowod  upon  the  howl 
of  a  riv'al.  He  replied  with  a  lion-like  growl,  and 
stalkincf  up  to  the  Ottomi,  lie  stood  watchinsr  him, 
ever  and  anon  writhintr  his  lips  so  as  to  disclose  his 
hiiLTc  fancrs,  and  seemed  Avaitins"  the  signal  to  attack, 
greatly  to  the  terror  of  the  orator.  / 

A  wave  of  the  general's  hand  disnl^ed  the  in- 
truding soldiers  from  the  a]\^rtment ;  and  at  the 
voice  of  Lerma,  the  dog  returned  to  him. 

"  I  am  Techeechee,"  said  the  orator,  resuming 
his  discourse,  but  with  tones  greatly  subdued  ;  "  I 
am  Techeechee,  the  Silent  Dog, — the  Silent  Dog  I 
am  ;  Techeechee,  the  Silent  Dog, — the  Silent  Dog 
I  am. — Techeechee." — 

All  this  time,  he  kept  his  eyes  fixed  upon  Befo  as 
if  dreading  an  assault;  and,  in  fact,  his  solicitude 
had  somewhat  overpowered  his  mind,  so  that  he 
continued  for  some  moments  to  reiterate  the  above 
phi'ases,  Avithout  any  seeming  consciousness  of 
their  absurdity.  At  last,  he  fell  into  his  vernacular 
language,  and  this  happily  releasing  him  from  his 
trammels,  he  poured  forth,  with  amazing  volubility, 
a  sti'ing  of  sounds,  so  harsh,  guttural,  inarticulate, 
and  unearthly,  that  they  seemed  rather  the  basso 
chatterings  of  an  ape  than  the  meaning  ^cents  of 
a  human  being. 

"  What  says  the  knave  ?"  cried  Cortes. 

"  He  says,"  replied  Juan,  "  that  he  is  the  little 
dumb  dog  of  the  hills,  and  will  harm  nobody ;  that 
Montezuma  was  a  big  dog,  like  Defo,  (wherein  he 
lies,)  and  that  Guatimozin  the  prince  is  bigger  still, 
and  will  eat  him, — which  is  to  be  understood  fijiu- 
ratively.  He  says,  he  is  the  Little  Dog,  and  there- 
fore not  fit  to  be  an  ambassador  ;  but — Ha  !  what 
sayst  thou,  Techeechee  1" — 

The  young  man  spoke  to  the  Ottomi  in  his  own 
tongue,  and  receiving  an  answer,  turned  immedi- 
ately to  Cortes,  saying, 


THE  INFIDEL.  105 

"  It  becomes  me  to  inform  your  excellency  of  his 
words ;  for  savage  though  he  be,  this  old  man  I 
have  ever  found  to  be  marvellously  shrewd,  as  well 
as  faithful.  It  is  his  opinion,  that  the  prince  Guati- 
mozin  would  not  injure  me,  if  I  went  on  the  em- 
bassy ;  wherefore,  I  beg  your  excellency  to  re- 
consider your  resolution.  He  says,  too,  he  wiU  go 
with  me." 

"  Your  destiny,  seiior,  is  to  the  rebellious  and 
bloody  town  Tochtepec,"  replied  the  general,  quickly 
and  decidedly." 

"  He  adds,"  continued  Juan,  "that  he  is  Techee- 
chee  and  no  ambassador  ;  but  that  he  is  cousin  to 
Q,uimichin,  the  Ground  Rat,  and  that  he  will  be 
your  spy, — for  quimichin  is  the  word  hy  which 
they  express  a  spy  throughout  the  whole  land." 

"  I  am  Techeechee ;  I  will  be  Quimichin,"  said 
the  Indian,  as  if  to  confirm  the  words  of  Juan,  and 
twisting  his  withered  features  into  a  smile,  that  was 
meant  to  express  both  cunning  and  affection. 

"  Dost  thou  think  him  faithful  V  said  Cortes.  "  I 
will  find  service  for  him.  But  go,  amigo !  I  have 
kept  thee  till  thou  art  as  faint  and  weary  as  my- 
self Get  thee  to  Quinones,  and  the  armory. 
Make  thy  preparations  and  take  thy  rest.  I  will 
see  thee  on  the  morrow — perhaps  to-night,  and  ac- 
quaint thee  with  thy  force  and  instructions.  God 
be  with  you — Nay,  heed  not  the  dog — Adieu, 
seiiores — He  has  much  of  your  own  fidelity,  roam 
he  never  so  much.     Take  him  with  you." 

When  the  last  of  the  cavaliers  had  departed  from 
the  chamber,  the  Captain-General,  stepped  upon  the 
platform,  and  throwing  himself  into  the  chair  of 
state,  sat  or  reclined  thereon,  with  the  air  of  one 
worn  out  by  exertion  of  mind  and  body,  and  on  the 
eve  of  sinking  into  a  swoon. 


106  Tlir   INFIDEL. 


CHAPTER  Vlll. 


According  to  the  apolojguc,  every  man  carries  on 
his  back  a  satchel,  in  which  are  deposited  his  infir- 
mities and  vices,  and  whicli,  thoiiirli  thus  concealed 
from  his  own  eyes,  lies  very  invitincrly  open  to  the 
inspection  of  his  friends.  Not  satisfied  with  this 
exposure  of  foibles,  there  are  some  good-natured 
moralist.s,  who  would  dive  deeper  into  the  secrets 
of  their  neighbours,  and  who  lament,  with  the  old 
heathen  metaphysician,  that  heaven  had  not  clapped 
windows  into  their  breasts,  so  that  they  might  de- 
tect ev^en  the  iniquity  of  thoughts.  This  regret 
may  be  avoided  by  all  who  are  willing  to  satisfy 
curiosity  at  their  own  expense;  for  heaven  has 
fitted  most  bosoms  with  private  loopholes,  through 
which  each  man  may  survey  at  his  leisure  the 
workings  of  his  own  spirit.  A  peep  through  the 
secret  casement  will  disclose  something  startling, 
if  not  humbling,  to  many,  who,  in  the  vanity  of 
good  works,  are  disposed  to  uplift  themselves 
above  their  fellows ; — such,  perhaps,  as  rational 
principles,  and  even  kindly  feelings,  taking  their 
hue  from  '  that  smooth-fnced  gentleman,' — that  bias- 
sing  spirit  which  is  more  comprehensively  express- 
ed in  Shakspeare's  phrase  of  Commodifi/  than  in  the 
more  familiar  one  of  interest;  for  it  is  true  of  us  all, 
that  virtues  are  sometimes  nothing  but  passions  in 
disguise,  and  that  reason  has  a  marvellous  facility 
in  acquiring  the  tones  of  worldly-wisdom.  If  the 
mere  grovelling  villain, — the  robber,  assassin,  or 
slayer  of  man's  peace, — can  find  some  such  spec- 
tacle near  to  his  heart  as  the  surgeon's  knife  ex- 


THE  INFIDEL.  107 

poses  in  the  breast  of  a  cankered  corse,  what  may 
he  detect,  whose  sublimer  villany  has  led,  or  is 
leading  him,  to  distinction,  upon  a  highway  paved 
with  the-  miseries  of  mankinds  Methinks,  the 
breast  of  the  ambitious  man  is  a  labyrinth  of  some 
such  caverns  as  perforate  the  bowels  of  a  volcano, 
in  whose  depths  are  lost  all  the  petty  details  of 
crime,  committed  or  meditated, — in  which  there  is 
no  light  but  that  which  bubbles  up  from  the  lava  of 
the  vast  passion, — and  in  which  there  is  even  no 
grandeur,  that  has  not  arisen  from  convulsions  the 
most  disorganizing  and  unnatural.  Such  a  heart 
is,  at  least  to  the  limited  ken  of  others,  a  chaos, — 
but  a  chaos  from  which  he  who  imbosoms  it,  and 
who  alone  can  understand  it,  calls  up, — less  like  a 
god  than  a  demon, — the  evil  elements,  which  create 
the  lurid  sphere  his  greatness. 

In  the  bosom  of  the  Conquistador  there  was  a 
corner,  into  which  the  blaze  of  ambition  had  not 
yet  penetrated,  and  where  the  common  passions  of 
our  nature  were  left  to  rage  and  struggle  as  in  the 
heart  of  a  meaner  mortal.  As  he  looked  therein, 
he  gave  himself  up  to  thoughts  which  devoured 
him,  while  his  countenance  betrayed,  for  a  time  at 
least,  nothing  beyond  such  lassitude  and  faintness 
as  may  have  characterized  the  Spartan  boy,  while 
bleeding  under  the  fangs  of  the  beast  he  concealed 
in  his  bosom. 

As  he  sat  brooding  in  this  apparently  calm,  yet 
deeply  suffering  lethargy,  there  glided  into  the 
apartment,  from  one  of  the  curtained  doors  on  the 
right  hand,  a  figure,  which,  seen  for  the  first  time 
and  in  the  dusky  twilight  already  darkening  around, 
might,  to  superstitious  eyes,  have  seemed  an  appa- 
rition,— it  was  so  strange,  so  fair,  so  majestic,  and 
so  mournful.  It  presented  a  stature  taller  than  be- 
longs to  the  beauty  of  woman,  yet  not  inconsistent 
with  the  conception  of  a  divinity ;  and  to  this  a 
singular  dignity  was  given  by  flowing  and  volu- 


108  THE  INFIDEL. 

niinoiis  robes  of  a  grayisli  texture,  vvhicli,  both  in 
hue  and  fashion,  bore  an  air  of  monastic  siiiiphcity, 
without  precisely  resembling  those  of  any  one  order. 
A  sort  of  hood,  or  veil,  drawn  a  little  aside  and 
resting  upon  the  brow,  gave  to  view  a  female  coun- 
tenance of  wonderful  loveliness,  and  not  without 
a  share  of  that  commanding  dignity,  which  dis- 
tinguished her  figure.  Her  hair,  shorn,  or  porhajis 
bound  behind  by  a  lillet,  and  thus  almost  altogether 
concealed  by  the  hood,  gave  yet  to  the  gaze  two 
long  locks,  broad  and  black,  which,  falling  over 
either  cheek,  were  lost  among  tlie  folds  of  the  veil 
which  her  right  hand  held  upon  her  bosom.  A 
complexion  dark,  yet  not  tawny, — a  chin  and  nos- 
trils carved  like  the  most  exquisite  statuary, — lips 
of  dusky  crimson, — a  brow  of  marble,  and  an  eye 
of  midnight,  made  up  a  countenance  both  beautiful 
and  characteristic,  yet  contradictory  in  the  expres- 
sion of  its  several  parts,  and  sometimes  even  in 
the  expression  of  the  same  features.  Thus,  the 
first  impression  made  upon  a  spectator  by  the  whole 
visage,  was  such  as  could  only  be  effected  by  ex- 
treme gentleness  of  disposition ;  while  the  second, 
he  scarce  knew  why,  spoke  of  energy  and  decision^ 
none  the  less  striking  for  being  concealed  mider  a 
mask  so  captivating.  Thus,  also,  the  eyes,  very 
large  and  set  widely  apart,  conveyed,  on  ordinary 
occasions,  the  idea  of  a  spirit  passive,  melancholy, 
and  inanimate ;  though  the  slightest  depression  of 
the  brow,  the  smallest  motion  of  the  lid,  transform- 
ed them  at  once  into  the  brightest  torches  of  pas- 
sion. If  one  could  conceive  the  spirit  of  a  Philomela 
— a  compound  of  sweet  tenderness  and  still  sweeter 
melancholy — dashed  witii  tlio  fire  of  a  Penthesilca, 
he  might  conjure  up  to  his  miners  eye  a  correct  re- 
presentation of  the  mysterious  bemg,  (alluded  to  by 
Villafana,  under  the  name  of  La  Moiijonaza,  or  the 
Nun,  the  word  being  a  sort  of  cant  augmentative 
of  Monja,  a  nun,)  whom  an  extraordinary  destiny 
had  thrown  among  the  warlike  invaders  of  Mexico. 


THE  INFIDEL.  109 

As  she  passed  from  the  thick  curtain  and  ad- 
vanced towards  the  platform,  on  which  sat  the 
moody  general,  her  visage  presented  none  of  its 
ordinary  mildness  ;  on  the  contrary,  her  brows  were 
knit  together,  her  lip  retracted,  and  the  look  with 
which  she  regarded  him  whom  all  others  were 
learning  to  fear,  was  bold,  stern,  and  even  fiercely 
hostile. 

The  rustling  of  the  curtain,  the  light  sound  of  her 
footstep,  the  bright  glance  of  her  eye,  when  she 
paused  before  him,  all  alike  failed  to  make  an  im- 
pression on  the  general's  senses.  She  perceived 
that  he  was  in  a  waking  dream,  absorbingly  pro- 
found and  painful,  and  she  stood  in  silence,  from 
disdainful  pride,  or  perhaps  with  a  woman's  curio- 
sity, endeavouring  to  trace  the  workings  of  his 
spirit  from  the  revelations  of  his  countenance, 
which,  by  this  time,  had  changed  from  a  stony  in- 
expressiveness  to  agitation  and  distortion.  At  this 
moment,  the  head  of  the  Conqueror  was  bent  for- 
wards, and  his  eyes  directed  upon  the  floor ;  but  she 
saw  enough  in  the  writhing  features,  and  the  fore- 
head almost  impurpled  with  blood,  to  know  that 
the  passions  then  convulsing  his  bosom,  were  dark 
and  deadly. 

At  this  sight,  the  frown  gradually  passed  away 
from  her  own  visage,  and  she  stood  regarding  him 
for  the  space  of  several  minutes,  with  a  calm  and 
melancholy  intentness.  Then,  perceiving  that^his 
lips,  though  moving  as  if  in  speech,  gave  out  no 
articulate  sound,  she  exclaimed,  with  a  voice  that 
thrilled  to  his  soul,  though  subdued  to  the  lowest 
accents, 

*'  Arise,  assassin !  It  is  not  just,  it  is  not  expe- 
dient ;  and  he  shall  NOT  perish  !" 

It  seemed  as  if  she  had  read  his  heart.  He  start- 
ed up,  surprised  and  confounded;  and  his  first  act 
was  to  cross  himself,  as  if  to  exorcise  a  fiend,  con- 

VOL.  I.  10 


110  THE  INFIDEL. 

jurod  up  by  the  more  spell  of  evil  thoughts.  He 
even  gave  voice  to  two  or  three  interjections  of 
alarm,  before  perceiving  that  the  rebuke  came  only 
from  lips  of  earth. 

"  Hah  !  hah  !  Santa  Maria  !  Santos  y  Angeles  ! 
hah  ! — Ho  !  ho  !  Infeliz !  Magdalena  !  fair  conqueror 
of  hearts  !  brigiit  converter  of  souls  that  shalt  be! 
is  it  thou,  Monja  Diia  Santi.sijna?  most  devout 
saint  of  the  veil  1"  he  cried,  recovering  his  self-pos- 
session, and  banishing  every  trace  of  passion  with 
astonishing  address.  "  By  th)'-  bright  eyes  of  hea- 
ven,— and  thanks  be  thine  for  the  good  deed, — thou 
hast  waked  me  from  a  dream  of  night-mare,  a  most 
horril)le  vision.  These  naps  o'  the  afternoon  are 
but  provokers  of  Inculjus, — ay,  and  Succul)a  into 
the  bargain.  1  thank  thee,  bright  Infeliz  :  it  is  bet- 
ter to  be  waked  by  thy  voice,  than  by  sweet 
music  !" 

"  And  dost  thou  think,"  said  the  lady,  witli  a  voice 
whose  deep  but  not  unfeminine  tones  suited  so  well 
M'ith  the  mournfulness  of  her  emphasis, — "  dost  thou 
think,  I  see  not,  this  moment,  into  thy  bosom  .' 
Visions  and  sleep !  Speak  of  visions  to  thy  dull 
conquerors :  they  who  dream  of  immortal  renown, 
can  best  appreciate  a  vision  of  bUwdshed.  Speak 
of  sleep  to  thy  duller  victims:  the  stupid  wretches 
who  slumber  with  the  chain  at  their  necks,  may 
I  well  believe  that  the  enslaver  has  also  his  seasons 
of  repose.  But  talk  not  of  these  to  me,  who  look 
upon  thee  neither  with  the  eyes  of  follower  nor  of 
foe.  Thou  canst  not  sleep,  thou  dost  not  dream  : 
thy  head  is  too  full  of  fime,  thy  foot  too  deep  in 
blood,  thy  heart  too  black  with  evil  thoughts — No, 
nevermore  canst  thou  sleep,  nevermore,  never- 
more !" 

The  last  words  were  uttered  with  a  cadence  so 
extremely  melancholy,  and  witli  a  manner  so  much 
like  that  of  one  who  apostrojihizes  self,  that  a  stran- 
ger overhearing  them,  and  marking  the  look  and 


THE  INFIDEL.  Ill 

gesture — the  upturned  eye  and  the  folding  of  arms 
on  the  breast-— would  have  naturally  supposed  they 
referred  rather  to  herself  than  to  another.  This 
was,  indeed,  a  suspicion,  entertained,  in  part,  by 
Cortes,  who,  somewhat  confounded  by  the  calm 
decision  with  which  she  rejected  a  deceitful  attempt 
to  explain  expressions  of  countenance  so  ominous 
as  those  he  had  displayed,  now  recovered  himself, 
and  said,  with  an  air  of  grave  sympathy,  in  which 
earnestness  could  not  conceal  a  vein  of  sarcasm 
and  bagatelle,  that  were  parts  of  his  nature, 

"  Fair  Infeliz,  the  Unhappy,  (since  by  this  lugu- 
brious epithet  you  choose  to  be  called,)  it  is  now 
some  two  months  since  you  dropped  among  us 
from  the  clouds,  the  fairest,  shrewdest  and  strangest, 
as  well  as  the  most  broken-hearted  and  self-accus- 
ing, of  all  the  angels  that  have  fallen  from  paradise. 
For  mine  own  part,  however  fervently  I  may  thank 
heaven  for  sending  me  such  a  minister,  I  have  not 
yet  got  over  my  amazement  at  your  presence ; 
which  I  indeed  regard  with  much  the  same  wonder 
wherewith  1  should  behold  the  sun  of  heaven  take 
up  his  quarters  at  my  tent-door." 

"  In  this  particular,"  said  the  lady,  with  the  ut- 
most tranquillity,  "  you  should  have  been  satisfied, 
(had  it  accorded  with  your  nature  to  believe  any 
solution  of  a  problem,  that  was  not  suggested  by 
your  own  imagination,)  that  the  deceptions  of  others, 
and  no  will  of  my  own,  brought  me  from  Santiago 
to  Mexico,  in  a  ship  which  should  have  carried  me 
to  Jamaica. — Your  allies  do  not  fit  out  vessels  open- 
ly for  this  land,  under  the  eye  of  Velasquez. — But 
why  ask  you  me  this  ]  Hast  thou  no  better  device 
to  lure  me  from  my  purpose  1  I  came,  not  to  speak 
of  myself,  but  of  others.  Thou  couldst  have  played 
the  lapwing  more  subtly,  hadst  thou  dwelt  upon  the 
whispers,  the  nods,  the  smiles  of  contempt  and  the 
words  of  scorn,  that  heralded  a  compelled  coming, 
and  which  requite  an  inevitable  stay.     But  learn, 


112  THE   INFIDEL. 

if  thou  hast  not  5^ct  learned  it,  that  these  things  are 
felt  more  tlian  they  are  feared,  and  that  she  who 
has  not  deserved  it,  may  sometimes  have  the  cou- 
rage to  endure  even  a  degrading  misconstruction. 
Why  hast  thou  not  insinuated  tJiis  ?'''  continued  the 
singular  being,  with  a  voice  that  betrayed  more 
feeling  than  iier  pride  confessed :  "  this  would  have 
drowned  every  other  tlioiight  in  a  true  woman  ;  for  to 
woman,  good  name  and  fame  are  more  than  life- 
blood, — yes,  more  than  life  ! — I  save  thee,  however, 
the  trouble ;  I  am  reminded  of  my  condition, — a 
woman  alone  in  thy  camp,  alone  in  thy  liands; — 
and  yet  I  return  to  my  jiurpose,  which  concerns  not 
myself,  but  another.  Wilt  thou  have  me  speak 
further  of  myself?  If  it  last  till  tlic  midnight,  be  sure 
I  will  yet  speak  of  tliat  which  I  have  in  view." 

"  Of  thyself,  then,  beauteous  Infeliz,"  said  Cortes, 
.admiringly ;  "  for  I  vow  to  heaven,  thou  art  the 
marvel  of  womankind,  whom  I  desire  to  understand 
even  more  than  to  adore.  Sit  thou  upon  my  bar- 
barian throne,  and  I  will  fling  me  at  thy  feet,  in 
token  that  I  acknowledge  thy  supremacy  in  wit, 
wisdom,  subtle  observation,  determination,  and  all 
other  virtues  tiiat  can  grace  woman, — ay,  or  man 
either ;  for  I  swear  by  my  conscience,  I  think  thou 
art  valiant  also,  fearing  nothing  that  walks  under 
heaven  or  above  the  abyss.  To  the  throne  then,  as 
queen  of  my  mystery." 

"  I  will  answer  thee  where  I  stand,"  said  Infeliz, 
calmly  disengaging  the  hand  wbicli  the  Conquista- 
dor had  taken  to  lead  her  to  the  platform;  "and 
think  not,  this  gaUant  folly  will  make  me  a  whit 
quicker  of  a]i]irehension,  or  r(>ply,  Make  thy  de- 
mands, and  gain  tliereby  what  time  thou  wilt  to  an- 
swer mine;  for  this  is  thy  purpose." 

"  Well  then,"  said  the  Captain-General,  with  a 
look  of  not  less  respect  than  curiosity,  "  make  me 
acquainted  with  this.    Wherefore,  as  thy  coming 


THE  INFIDEL,  113 

hither  was  so  much  against  thy  will,  hast  thou  not 
once  demanded  to  be  taken  back  to  the  islands  ?" 

"  Because  it  is  not  yet  my  will  to  be  discharged 
from  your  presence,"  replied  the  lady,  calmly. 

"  Be  thou  of  this  mind  for  ever,"  said  the  general, 
with  an  air  of  sincerity.  "  Now  let  me  know,  I 
pray  you,  why  it  is  that  I  am  somewhat  more  for- 
ward in  confiding  to  thy  scrutiny  my  secret 
thoughts  than  to  the  best  and  wisest  of  my  bold 
cavaliers  ]" 

"  Because  thou  knowest  I  neither  love  thee  nor 
hate  thee ;  because  I  lose  not  good-will  by  asking 
honours  and  spoils,  nor  by  boasting  of  services  and 
ability ;  but  chiefly  am  I  troubled  with  your  confi- 
dence, because  I  am  the  only  one  who  lists  not  to 
have  it." 

"  By  my  faith,  thou  art  very  right,  especially  in 
the  last  reason  of  all,"  said  Cortes,  with  a  laugh ; 
"  for  secrets  are  like  gnats  and  musket-bullets,  they 
ever  crowd  thickest  after  those  who  strive  most  to 
avoid  them. — Tell  me  now,  fair  and  most  provok- 
ing Infeliz,  why,  when  I  have  flung  thee  open  the 
whole  book  of  my  confidence,  thou  givest  me  not  a 
single  chapter  of  thine  1" 

"  Because  it  extends  not  beyond  that  single  chap- 
ter," replied  La  Monjonaza,  patiently,  "  hath  neither 
beginning  nor  end,  and  is,  beside,  in  a  language 
which  thou  canst  not  understand." 

"  Pho,  you  put  me  off"  with  nothing,"  said  Don 
Hernan,  again  taking  the  hand  of  his  remarkable 
guest.  "  I  have  but  one  more  question  to  ask  you. 
Why  is  it,  (and  I  pray  you  to  forgive  me  the  ques- 
tion,) that,  with  the  consciousness  that  your  situa- 
tion in  this  mad  land  and  knavish  army,  exposes 
you  not  only  to  degrading  suspicion,  but  even  to 
absolute  personal  danger,  you  betray  no  apprehen- 
sion of  the  wild  reprobates  among  whom  you  are 
placed  I  that  you  show  no  dread  even  of  me  1" 

10* 


114  THE  INFIDEL. 

"  Because,"  said  the  maiden,  removing  her  right 
hand,  which  slie  had,  up  to  this  moment,  preserved 
upon  her  breast,  and  drawing  aside  the  tliick  folds 
of  veil  and  mantle, — "  because,  for  the  wretch  who 
fears  jiot  the  woman's  arms  of  modesty  and  help- 
lessness, i  bear  with  me  a  weapon  which  will  secure 
his  respect." 

And  as  she  spoke,  the  eye  of  Don  Hernan  fell 
U})on  a  naked  and  glittering  poniard  thrust  through 
her  girdle,  and  worn  as  if  it  had  long  formed  a  part 
of  the  habit. 

There  was  something  inexpressibly  impressive 
in  the  calm  and  simple  dignity  with  which,  in  the 
very  gesture  that  jiointed  out  a  protection  so  insuf- 
ficient, she  acknowledged  a  weakness,  in  all  other 
respects,  unfriended.  Cortes,  in  the  multitude  of 
Jus  base  and  graspingly  selfish  attributes,  was  not 
without  some  traits  of  a  more  generous  character ; 
and  especially  admiring  a  courage  so  self-relying, 
so  unafiectedly  real,  and  perhaps  so  much  akin  to 
his  own,  he  had  enough  of  the  old  leaven  of  chival- 
ric  feeling,  to  understand  and  appreciate  the  claims 
of  the  sex  to  his  compassion  and  protection.  That 
he  had  other  reasons  for  treating  La  Monjonaza 
with  respect,  cannot  be  denied. 

"  Give  me  thy  hand,  Magdalena,"  he  said,  with 
an  action  and  voice  rather  indicating  the  familiarity 
of  a  patron  than  that  of  a  presumptuous  suitor : 
*'  Thou  art  right ;  thou  art  a  creature  after  mine 
own  heart ;  and  I  swear  to  thee,  I  will  do  thee  no 
wrong,  nor  suffer  it  to  be  done  thee  by  another. 
Heed  not  what  may  be  said  of  thee :  my  dogs  would 
bay  an  angel,  should  one  condescend  to  pay  them 
a  visit.  Thy  cloister-like  garments  are  not  amiss ; 
— there  be  more  that  venerate  than  malign  thee, 
for  this  reason ;  and,  thank  heaven,  the  padre  01- 
medo  finds  no  sin  in  thy  wearing  them.  Wilt  thou 
be  seated  1     There  is  peace  between  us ;  let  there 


THE  INFIDEL.  115 

be  confidence.     What  hast  thou  to  ask  of  me,  Mag- 
dalena  ?     Thy  revenge  is  at  hand." 

The  maiden  returned  the  scrutinizing  look  of  the 
general  with  one  which,  if  not  so  piercing,  was  at 
least  quite  as  steady  : 

"  Your  excellency  has  thrice  called  me,  who  call 
myself  Infeliz,  by  a  name  not  authorized  by  any 
revealments  of  mine,"  she  said:  "you  speak  also  of 
rev^enge, — of  my  revenge  ! — Yes,"  she  muttered, 
with  a  quivering  lip;  "  this  is  a  thing  to  be  thought 
of,  not  spoken." 

She  paused  a  moment,  and  Cortes,  casting  a 
quick  eye  round  the  apartment,  said,  in  a  voice 
confidentially  low  and  insinuating, 

"  I  would  the  story  had  come  from  yourself  But 
it  matters  not, — I  have  it ;  and  disguise  is  no  longer 
availing.  You  lose  nothing  by  the  change,  for  I 
see,  thy  spirit  hath  the  elements  of  mine  own.  Ah ! 
water  in  the  desert !  the  first  kiss  of  a  lover  !  breath 
to  the  suffocating ! — such  is  revenge  to  the  soul  of 
the  mighty ! — I  know  thee,  thy  history  and  thy  pur- 
pose.— I  have  dandled  the  boy  Hilario  upon  my 
knee !" 

The  strong  and  meaning  stress  laid  upon  the  last 
abrupt  words,  only  served  to  drive  the  colour  from 
the  maiden's  cheeks  and  lips.  In  all  other  respects, 
she  remained  calm  and  collected,  and  replied  grave- 
ly,— 

"  The  tale  comes  from  the  Alguazil  Villafana — '* 

"  Hah !"  said  Cortes,  in  surprise  ;  "  how  knowest 
thou  that  ]" 

"  Because  there  is  no  other, — no  other,  save  one, 
who  will  not  speak  it,— in  all  this  land,  who  knows 
so  much  of  me ;  and  because,  were  there  twenty, 
the  man  whom  heaven  has  cursed  with  the  industri- 
ous treachery  of  a  spider,  and  the  rage  to  entangle 
all  things  in  his  flimsy  web,  would  be  the  first  to 
betray  me." 


1  IG  THE  INFIDEL. 

"  Thou  sayst  the  triUli  of  Villafma,"  said  Cortes, 
with  a  laufrh  of  peculiar  exultation.  "  In  spirit  and 
intention,  he  is  the  insect  you  have  named ;  but  yet 
he  spins  his  web,  less  like  the  spider,  with  the 
chance  of  d(\stroyin_ir,  than  the  silken-caterpillar,  that 
toils  for  his  master,  who  will  smother  him  in  his 
work,  as  soon  as  it  is  jierfected.  Ay,  thy  penetra- 
tion is  clear,  thy  conc(^j)tion  just;  the  knave  is,  in 
all  tliinofs,  a  traitor, — a  double,  a  trii)le, — a  centupled 
traitor!'' 

"  And  you  l^oth  spare  him,  and  ^nve  him  the 
means  of  multiplying  liis  dangerous  villanies?" 

"I  do,  by  my  conscience  I"  said  Cortes,  viva- 
ciously. "  There  is  a  charm  in  it,  and  no  little  po- 
licy. Dost  thou  think  this  little  fly  can  deceive  1 
can  deceive  me  ? — "VVert  thou  n.  man,  thou  wouldst 
know,  that  even  al)0vc  the  triumph  of  vengeance,  is 
the  joy  of  him  who  watches  the  nets  that  his  foe  is 
spreading,  and,  as*  he  watches,  fastens  them  softly 
down  upon  the  ensnarer." 

"  And  is  the  insect  worthy  to  be  toiled  by  the 
Jionr 

"Ay, — when  the  lion  is  a  man  I — This  is  my  di- 
version ;  it  is  also  my  profit.  1  would  not  for  a 
thousand  crowns,  any  harm  should  come  to  so  ser- 
viceable a  tool :  a  better  decoy  never  circled  the 
disaffected  about  him.  He  is  the  touchstone  that 
reveals  me  the  metal  of  the  doubtful, — the  diamond 
that  cuts  me  the  adamant  of  malignancy.  I  look 
through  him,  as  through  the  philosopher's  glass, 
and  behold  the  million  things  of  corruption  that 
swarm  in  the  hearts  of  the  curs  beneath  him. — By 
heaven  !  it  joys  me,  that  I  have  one  to  whom  I  can 
sj)eak  these  secret  blisses.  Thou  art  my  vizier, 
my  very  familiar.  Know  then,  that  this  very  night, 
the  dog  meditates  a  treachery,  with  which  I  will  be 
acquainted,  and  yet  seem  unacquainted.  By  my 
conscience,  it  delights  me  to  tell  thee,  with  what 
exquisite  industry  the  poor  knave  works  me  a  good, 


THE  INFIDEL.  117 

while  foolishly  believing  he  is  doing  me  an  ill.  Dost 
thou  not  remember  that  I  have  told  thee,  how  much 
it  concerns  me  to  procure  some  trusty  envoy,  to 
go  between  me  and  the  young  infidel,  Guatimozin 
of  Tenochtitlan  V 

"  I  am  familiar  with  your  wishes." 

"Learn  then,  that,  this  night,  Villafana  himself 
procures  me  the  emissary  I  have  myself  sought  after 
in  vain, — a  Mexican  noble  of  liigh  rank. — I  could 
kiss  the  dog  for  his  knavery !" 

<•  And  wherefore  does  he  thisl" 

"  Faith,  in  the  amiable  wish  to  reconcile  some  of 
the  jarring  elements  of  his  conspiracy ;  to  wit,  the 
Tlascalans  and  Mexicans ;  the  latter  of  whom,  this 
night,  will,  with  his  good  help,  show  the  black- 
cheeked  Xicotencal  the  advantages  to  be  gained  by 
uniting  with  his  mighty  and  royal  enemy  of  Mexico, 
to  secure  the  destruction  of  my  insignificant  self 
Ha !  ha  !  Is  not  the  thought  absurdly  delightful ! 
Ah,  Villafana !  Villafana !  I  have  no  such  merry  con- 
ceited good-fellow  as  thou !" 

La  Monjonaza  beheld  the  exultation,  and  listened 
to  the  mirthful  laugh  of  the  Conqueror  with  much 
interest,  and  not  a  little  surprise.  It  did  indeed 
seem  extraordinary,  tliat  he  should  be  so  heartily 
diverted  by  the  audacity  of  a  villany  that  aimed 
at  his  downfall,  and  perhaps  his  life.  But  this 
very  merriment  indicated  how  many  majestic  fa- 
thoms he  felt  himself  elevated  above  the  reach  of 
any  arts  of  human  malevolence  or  opposition.  It 
was  as  if  the  eagle,  flapping  his  wings  among  thun- 
der-clouds, shrieked  with  contempt  at  schoolboys 
shooting  up  birdbolts  from  the  \illage-green. — It 
gave  a  clew  to  a  characteristic  which  Infeliz  was 
not  slow  to  unravel.  A  deep  sigh  from  her  lips  re- 
called the  general  from  his  diversion. 

*'  Thou  sighest,  Magdalena  V  he  cried. 

"  It  was  for  thee,"  she  answered :  "  I  sighed,  in- 
deed, to  think  how  much  and  how  truly  thou,  thus 


118  THE  INFinEL. 

elevated  by  a  touch  of  divinity  above  the  children 
of  men,  dost  yet  resemble  this  miserable,  grovelling, 
befooled  Villafona  !" 

"What,  n    Resemble  hi  ml   resemble  Villafanal" 

"  Deny  it,  if  thou  canst,"  said  the  maiden,  with 
reljuking  severity ;  "  and  if  thou  canst  not,  then 
humble  thyself,  and  confess  the  base  similitude. 
Thou  dilferest  from  him  but  in  this, — that,  wliereas, 
in  one  quahty,  thou  art  uplifted  miles  above  his 
head,  thou  art,  in  another,  sunk  even  leagues  below 
liim. — Thou  frownest  ?  Hast  thou  discovered  that 
anger  adds  aught  to  the  state  of  dignity  J  Thou 
dost,  this  moment,  even  with  the  crawling  venom 
of  Villafana,  with  a  rage  still  more  abased,  seek  a 
life  thou  hast  not  courage  openly  to  destroy." 

"  Santiago  !"  cried  Cortes,  in  a  heat ;  "  by  St.  Pe- 
ter, you  are  over-bitter.  But  pho,  I  will  not  be  an- 
gry with  thee.  Dost  thou  think  me  this  coward 
thing  r' 

"  Hast  thou  not  doomed  the  young  man,  Juan 
Lerma,  a  second  time,  to  death  V  cried  La  Monjo- 
naza,  with  an  eye  that  trembled  not  a  moment  in 
.the  gaze  of  the  Captain-General ;  "  and  was  it  not 
with  the  embrace  of  a  Judas  ]  Oh,  sefior  !"  she  con- 
tinued, firmly,  "  say  not  that  Villafana  is  either  base 
or  craven.  Jle  strikes  at  the  strong  man,  who  sits 
armed  and  with  his  eyes  open :  but  thou,  oh  IhoK, — 
thou  art  content  to  aim  at  the  breast  of  the  friend- 
less and  naked  sleeper  1 — Judge  between  thyself  and 
Villafana:" 

It  is  impossible  to  express  the  mingled  effects  of 
shame  and  rage,  that  disfigured  the  visage  and  con- 
vulsed the  frame  of  the  Captain-General,  at  this 
powerful  and  altogether  unexpected  rebuke.  He 
smote  his  brow,  he  took  two  or  three  hasty  steps 
over  the  floor ;  when,  at  last,  a  thought  striking 
him,  he  rushed  back  to  the  chider,  snatched  up  her 
hand,  and  said,  Mith  an  attempt  at  laughter,  pain* 


THE   INFIDEL.  119 

fully  contrasted  with  his  working  and  even  ago- 
nized visage, 

"  Dost  thou  quarrel  with  me  for  fighting  thy  bat- 
tles ?  Oh,  by  St.  James,  it  is  better  to  draw  sword 
on  a  friend  i\mxi  for  him :  ingratitude  always  comes 
of  it.  Had  I  thought  this  of  old,  I  had  been  a  hap- 
pier man,  and  thou  never  hadst  mourned  the  death 
of  Hilario ; — no,  by'r  lady,  Hilario  had  been  a  living 
man,  and  thou  happy  with  him  in  the  island  !" 

As  he  hurried  over  these  words,  the  diversion 
they  gave  to  his  thoughts,  enabled  him  rapidly  to 
recover  his  self-command,  in  which,  as  in  affairs  of 
less  personal  consequence,  he  always  exhibited 
wonderful  power.  This  accomplished,  he  continued, 
with  an  earnest  voice, 

"  Concealment  is  now  useless  :  the  time  waxes, 
when  I  must  think  of  other  things :  let  us  shrive 
one  another  even  as  two  friars,  and  deceive  one 
another  no  further  than  they.  Methinks,  what  I  do 
is  for  thy  especial  satisfaction. — An  ill  loon  I  am,  to 
do  so  much  for  one  who  so  bitterly  censures  me  ! — 
Who  thou  art,  and  what  thou  art,  I  know  not : 
thou  wert  an  angel,  couldst  thou  give  over  chiding. 
The  young  Hilario  del  Milagro  was  the  son  of  mine 
old  friend  Antonio  : — a  very  noble  boy, — I  remem- 
ber him  well. — By  heaven,  thy  hand  is  turned  to 
ice  !  Art  thou  ill  ]" 

"  Do  I  look  so  V  said  the  maiden,  with  a  faint 
laugh.  Her  face  had  of  a  sudden  become  very  pale, 
yet  she  spoke  firmly,  though  not  without  a  visible 
effort.     "  I  listen  to  thy  confession." 

"  To  mine !  By  my  troth,  I  am  confessing  thy 
sins  and  sorrows,  and  not  mine.  Well,  Magdale- 
na,"  he  continued,  "  thy  emotion  is  not  amiss :  it  is 
not  every  maiden  can  think  calmly  of  the  death  of 
her  lover,  knowing  that  his  slayer  is  nigh. — I  knew 
Hilario,  when  a  boy, — ay,  good  faith,  and  Juan 
Lerma,  too,  his  playmate  and  foster-brother,  or  his 


120  THE    INFIDEL. 

youn£r  page  and  varlct,  I  know  not  which.  It  was 
on  Antonio's  recommendation,  that  I  afterwards 
took  this  foundling  knave  to  my  bosom,  and  made 
him — no,  not  what  he  is!  for  tliis  is  a  thing  of  liis 
own  making.  1  sent  him  to  Espanola  to  recruit : 
he  loitered, — he  returned  to  the  house  of  Milagro— 
Sliall  I  say  more  ?  Hilario,  his  brother,  the  son  of 
his  best  friend  and  jxUron,  was  the  betrothed  hus- 
band of  Magdalena ;  and  iiini  did  the  wolf-cub 
slay.  Wo  betide  me  !  for  it  was  I  that  taught  him 
the  use  of  his  weapon.  — Is  not  this  enough  ?  Acci- 
dent hath  brought  thee  to  Mexico;  thou  seest  the 
killer  of  thy  lover  ;  and,  like  a  true  daughter  of 
Spain,  thy  heart  is  full  of  vengeance. — Is  not  this 
true?  Disguise  thy  wrath  in  wild  sarca>;m  no  lon- 
ger.    Were  he  the  king's  son,  he  should Pho  ! 

recall  thy  words  :  Is  it  not  '  just  ?'  is  it  not  '  expe- 
dient V  " 

To  these  sinister  demands,  Magdalena  replied 
with  astonishing  composure : 

"All  this  is  well.  Shrive  now  tliyself — Hast 
thou  any  cause,  personally,  to  desire  his  death  1" 

"  Millions  !"  replied  the  general,  grinding  his 
teeth;  "  millions,  millions  !  to  which  the  death  of 
Hilario,  wringing  at  thy  breast,  is  but  as  a  gnat- 
bite  to  the  sting  of  adders. — Millions,  millions  !" 

"  Give  him  then  to  death,"  said  Magdalena,  with 
a  voice  so  grave  and  passionless,  that  it  instantly 
surprised  the  Conquistador  out  of  his  fury ;  "  give 
him    to    death, — but  let   it   be   in  thy  name,   not 

"  Art  thou  wholly  inexplicable  ?"  he  cried.  "  I 
read  thee  by  the  alphabet  of  human  passions,  and  I 
make  thee  not  out, — no,  not  so  much  as  a  word. 
Thy  flesh  warms  and  chills,  tiiine  eye  swims  and 
flashes,  thy  brow  bends,  thy  lip  curls,  thy  breast 
heaves,  thy  frame  trembles ;  and  yet  art  thou  more 
than  mortal,  or  less.  When  shall  I  understand 
theel" 


THE   INFIDEL.  121 

"  When  thou  canst  look  to  heaven,  and  say,  '  I 
have  done  no  wrong' — No,  no  !  not  to  heaven ;  for 
what  child  of  earth  can  look  thitherward,  and  un- 
veil the  actions  of  life  1 — When  thou  canst  lay  thy 
hand  upon  thy  bosom,  and  appealing,  not  to  divine 
justice,  but  to  that  of  human  reason,  say,  '  What  I 
do  is  just :' — in  other  words,  never.  You  are  sur- 
prised :  you  bade  me  repeat  my  words  :  I  do : — '  It 
is  not  just,  it  is  not  expedient,  and  Juan  Lerma 
shall  not  die !'  " 

"  Now  by  my  conscience  !"  said  Cortes,  "  this  is 
the  true  dog-star  madness  !  Wert  thou  not  behind 
the  curtain,  and  didst  thou  not  shriek  at  sight  of 
himi  Mystery  that  thou  art,  unveil  thyself— 
Wherefore  tarriest  thou  in  this  land,  suspected, 
scorned,  degraded,  if  not  to  have  vengeance  on 
him  1  Wherefore,  I  say,  wherefore  V 

"  To  save  him,"  replied  the  lady,  boldly, — « to 
save  him  from  the  fury  that  has  brought  thee  to  the 
level  of  the  Alguazil.  i^lse  had  I  long  since  return- 
ed to  the  islands.  Revoke  therefore  thy  commis- 
sion, and,  in  ^^y  way  thou  wilt,  so  that  it  carry 
with  it  neit'ier  secret  malice  nor  open  insult,  con- 
trive to  discharge  him  from  thy  service.  His  life 
is  charmed — it  is  in  my  keeping." 

«  Oho !"  said  the  Captain-General,  surveying  La 
Mcnjonaza  with  an  exulting  sneer ;  "  sits  the  wind 
in  that  quarter  ?  And  thou  art  but  a  woman  after 
all !  Now  was  I  but  a  fool,  I  trow,  not  to  bethink 
me  how  the  wife  of  Uriah  forgot  the  death  of  her 
husband,  when  she  saw  a  path  open  to  the  arms  of 
his  murderer.  Is  it  so  indeed?  Thou  hast  fallen 
from  admiration  to  pity." 

"  She  who  withstands  evil  thoughts  and  malign- 
ing words,  will  not  weep  even  at  the  contempt  of 
commiseration,"  said  Magdalena,  with  a  sigh. 

"  Villafana  has  then  deceived  me, — or  rather, 
poor  fool,  has  deceived  himself,  as  is  more  natural," 
said  Cortes,  with  a  malicious  grin.    "  Never  believe 

VOL.  I.  11 


122  THE  INFIDLL. 

me,  but  thou  shalt  rule  me  in  this  matter,  as  in 
others.  Juan  Lerma  shall  thank  thee  for  his  life, 
even  for  the  sake  of  the  Maid  of  Mexico, — thy 
brown  rival,  Zelaliualla." 

As  he  spoke  thus,  he  watched  closely  the  effect 
of  his  words  on  Magdalena,  and  beheld  a  sudden 
fire  light  up  in  her  eyes,  succeeded  by  such  paleness 
as  had  always  covered  her  visage,  when  he  refin-red 
to  the  death  of  Hilario.  Nevertheless,  she  did  not 
avert  her  glance,  nor  exhibit  any  other  manifesta- 
tion of  feeling,  except  that  she  replied  not  a  single 
word. 

"  It  is  the  truth  that  I  tell  thee,"  he  muttered  in  a 
low  voice,  taking  up,  as  if  in  compassion,  her  hand, 
which  was  yielded  passively,  and  was  again  cold 
and  dewy  ;  "  she  is  very  lovely, — very, — and  a 
king's  daughter.  He  fought  for  her  love  with  Guz- 
man. So,  perhaps,  ho  fouglit  Hilario  for  thine. 
By  my  conscience!  he  makes  love  over  blood- 
thirstily  !  When  I  spoke  to  Lim  of  Zelahualla,— 
nay,  I  mentioned  not  her  name ;  1  upoke  only  of  his 
friends  in  the  palace  of  Mexico — y^t  the  colour 
flushed  over  his  cheeks.  Nevertheless,  Umu  shalt 
rule  me ;  thou  shalt  have  time  for  consideration : 
the  expedition  to  Tochtepec  can  be  delayed.  Dost 
thou  think  he  would  have  consented  to  be  ytiine 
envoy  to  Tenochtitlan,  but  for  the  hope  of  seeing  Us 
princess  1  I  could  tell  thee  another  thing — (there 
are  more  rivals  than  one) — but  it  matters  not, — it 
matters  not !  Thou  wilt  not  be  content  with — 
pity  ! — Arouse  thee,  and  speak. — Art  thou  marble  ?" 

At  this  moment,  and  while  it  seemed  indeed  that 
the  unhappy  Monjonaza,  notwithstanding  that  lier 
countenance  was  still  inexpressively  placid,  had 
been  turned  to  stone,  the  curtain  of  the  great  door, 
or  principal  entrance,  was  drawn  aside,  and  the 
cavalier  Don  Francisco  de  Guzman  strode  hastily 
into  the  apartment.  The  sound  of  his  footsteps, 
more  than  the  warning  gesture  of  Cortes,  recalled 


THE    INFIDEL.  123 

her  to  her  senses.  She  raised  her  hand  to  her 
brow,  and  the  long  hood  falling  over  her  counte- 
nance, she  turned  to  depart  through  the  door  by 
which  she  had  entered.  The  evening  was  already- 
closing  fast,  and  the  shadowy  obscurity  of  the 
chamber  perhaps  concealed  her  from  the  eyes  of 
the  intruder.  Nevertheless,  Cortes  perceived,  as 
she  glided  away,  that  her  step  was  altered  and 
tottering,  and  that  her  hands  fumbled  for  a  moment 
at  the  door  curtain,  as  if  she  knew  not  how  to  re- 
move it.  It  yielded,  however,  at  last,  and  she 
vanished  from  his  eyes. 

"  Poor  fool,"  he  muttered,  with  a  feeling  divided 
between  scorn,  anger,  and  pity,  "thou  hast  dis- 
covered to  me  the  broken  postern  of  thy  spirit :  the 
walls  are  strong,  but  the  citadel  is  in  ruins.  This 
is  somewhat  marvellous, — I  will  know  more  of  it. 
It  is  a  new  and  another  thing  to  be  remembered. — 
Come,  amigo :  it  is  over  dark  here  for  thy  business. 
We  will  walk  in  the  open  air." 

So  saying,  he  took  Guzman's  arm,  and  departed 
from  the  chamber. 


124  THE   INFIDEL, 


CHAPTER  IX. 


Some  two  hours  or  more  after  he  liad  been  dlfs- 
eharged  from  the  presence  of  the  Captain-General, 
Juan  Lerma  sat  musing  in  one  of  the  many  lum- 
dred  chambers  which  composed  tlie  vast  extent  (»f 
the  palace  of  Nezahualcojotl,  a  diOerent  being  from 
that  the  reader  beheld  him  Returning  from  exile. 
The  coarse  tilmallli^  or  native  cloak,  and  the  bar- 
barous tunic,  had  been  exchanged  for  raiment  of  a 
better  material  and  fashion,  a  part  of  which, — the 
bragas  and  xaqueta,  at  least — were  from  the  ward- 
robe of  the  genera],  while  modesty,  or  reluctance  to 
accept  any  further  of  such  assistance  than  was  abso- 
lutely necessary,  had  induced  him  to  substitute  for 
the  plain  but  costly  capa,  or  mantle,  of  velvet,  the 
long  surcoat  of  black  cloth,  very  richly  embroidered, 
which  had,  as  he  was  told,  accompanied  the  suit  of 
armour,  sent  by  his  unknown  friend.  This  valua- 
ble and  well-timed  gift  lay  upon  a  platform  beside 
his  matted  and  canopied  couch,  shining  brilliantly 
in  the  light  which  a  waxen  candle  diffused  throngh- 
out  the  apartment.  He  sat  upon  a  native  stool, 
carved  of  a  solid  block  of  wood,  and  his  fine  coun- 
tenance and  majestic  figure,  besides  the  advantages 
they  received  from  becoming  garments,  apiieared 
even  of  a  more  elevated  beauty,  when  seen  by  this 
solitary  ray. 

His  only  companion  was  the  dog  Befo,  whose 
shaggy  coat,  yet  gleaming  with  moisture,  betrayed 
that  he  had  shared  with  the  young  man  his  evening 
bath  in  the  lake.     The  attachment  of  this  beast  ^ 
was  much  more  natural  than  remarkable.     Five 


THE  INFIDEL.  125 

years  before,  when  Juan  was  but  a  boy  in  Santo 
Domingo,  Befo  had  been  his  playmate  and  com- 
panion ; — had  followed  him  to  Cuba,  when  the  youth 
began  to  weary  of  dependence,  and  long  for  a  life 
of  activity  and  distinction ;  and  was  finally  present- 
ed by  the  grateful  adventurer  to  Cortes,  as  the  only 
gift  in  his  power  to  bestow ;  for,  at  that  time,  saving 
Jiis  youth,  health,  and  good  spirits,  Befo  made  up 
the  sum  of  his  worldly  possessions.  In  the  change 
of  masters,  however,  Befo  did  not  trouble  himself 
to  acquiesce;  nor  did  he  perceive  any  necessity, 
while  treating  Cortes  with  all  surly  good-will  and 
respect,  to  abate  a  jot  of  his  love  for  the  hand  which 
had  first  sustained  and  caressed  him.  The  dog  is 
the  only  animal  that  shows  disinclination  to  be 
transferred  from  one  master  to  another.  The 
horse  cares  not,  the  ox  submits,  and  man  makes 
no  opposition.  The  dog  has  a  will  of  his  own,  and 
acknowledges  no  change  of  servitude,  until  con- 
scious of  a  change  of  affection. 

The  stirring  and  harassing  events  of  the  day, 
tliough  they  had  exhausted  the  spirit  of  the  youth, 
had  yet  brought  with  exhaustion  that  nervous  irri- 
tableness  which  drives  away  slumber  from  the  eyes 
of  the  over- weary.  Twice  or  thrice,  Juan  had  flung 
himself  on  the  couch  to  repose,  but  in  vain ;  and  as 
he  now  sat  questioning  himself  how  far  the  substi- 
tution of  soft  mats  and  robes  for  a  bed  of  earth, 
might  account  for  his  inability  to  sleep,  he  began  to 
revolve  in  his  mind,  for  the  twentieth  time,  his 
change  of  fortunes,  and  wonder  at  the  inauspicious, 
and,  as  it  seemed  to  him,  unnatural  sadness,  which 
oppressed  his  spirits. 

"  I  have  been  restored,"  he  muttered,  half  aloud, 
— and,  as  he  spoke,  Befo,  roused  by  the  accents 
from  the  floor,  thrust  his  rough  head  over  his  knees, 
to  testify  his  attention, — "  I  have  been  restored  to 
favour,  and,  in  great  part,  to  the  friendship  of  the 
General. — Thou  whinest,  Befo !    I  would  I  could 

11  * 


126  THE  INFIDEL. 

read  the  heart  of  a  man  as  clearly  as  thine. — Yet 
has  he  not  distinguished  me  with  a  high  command, 
— a  captain's  ?  I  trow,  it  is  not  every  one  who 
can  so  soon  st«^ii  into  this  dignity,  ospocially  when 
without  the  recommendation  of  birth,  as  Alvarado 
hinted. — I  will  show  this  proud  cavalier,  that  God 
does  not  confine  all  merit  to  hidalgos'  sons.  If  he 
give  me  but  a  capable  force — Twenty  foot  and  six 
horse  ] — 'tis  but  a  weak  array  for  a  field  where 
eighty  men  have  perished.  Yet  I  care  not :  if  I 
have  but  Xicotencal  to  back  me,  with  some  two  or 
three  xiqiiipils*  of  his  TIascalans,  it  will  be  enough. 
If  I  fall, — perhaps  that  will  be  better :  I  am  too  faint- 
hearted for  those  wars.  Villafana  says,  that  he 
brands  the  prisoners  too,  and  sells  them  for  slaves. 
This  is  surely  imjust — He  was  another  man  at 
Cuba." 

At  this  moment,  the  dog  raised  his  head  and 
growled,  and  Juan  heard  steps  approaching  through 
the  long  passage,  that  ran  by  his  door.  Here  they 
stopped,  and  Befo  continuing  to  give  utterance  to 
his  displeasure,  the  voice  of  Villafana  whispered 
through  the  curtain, 

"  Put  thy  hand  on  the  beast's  neck,  or  box  him 
o'  the  ears — He  is  no  friend  of  mine." 

"  Enter,"  said  Juan,  "  if  thou  art  seeking  me.  He 
will  do  thee  no  harm." 

"  Ay,  marry,"  said  Villafana,  coming  in  ;  "  for  at 
the  worst,  and  when  other  things  fail,  I  will  stop 
him  with  my  dudgeon,  be  he  Cortes's,  thine,  or  any 
one's  else.  It  stirs  my  choler  to  be  growled  at  by 
so  base  a  thing  as  a  dog." 

"  Put  up  thy  weapon,  nevertheless,"  said  Juan, 
observing  that  Villafana  had  a  poniard  in  his  hand; 
"  thou  seest,  the  dog  is  quiet.     In  this  he  pays  me 

^  *■  Xiquipll — u  niiliUiry  division  of  natives,  consisting"  of 
eight  thousand  men. 


THE  INFIDEL.  127 

the  compliment  of  supposing  I  can  protect  myself. 
What  is  thy  will  with  me,  Villafana  ]" 

"  First,"  said  the  Alguazil,  with  a  laugh,  "  to  give 
thee  my  congratulations  touching  thy  sudden  rise 
from  the  abyss,  and  thy  meditated  flight  heaven- 
ward. And,  secondly,"  he  continued,  when  Juan 
had  nodded  his  thanks,  "to  ask,  in  the  way  of 
friendship,  from  how  high  a  cliff"  thou  canst  tumble 
headlong,  without  danger  of  breaking  thy  neck "?" 

"  This  is  but  a  silly  question,  friendly  though  it 
may  be,"  replied  Juan. 

"  Oh,  sefior,"  said  Villafana,  "  you  must  remem- 
ber, the  first  night  we  slept  with  the  army,  at  the 
base  of  El  Volcan,  the  mighty  Popocatepetl,  how 
much  we  admired  the  great  stones,  that  the  devils 
therein  flung  up  against  the  stars  !  You  nod  again : 
good  luck  to  your  recollections  !  Did  you  observe 
any  one  of  those  ignited  masses  stick  against  the 
vault,  and  there  hang  among  the  luminaries  1" 

"  Surely  not,"  said  Juan  ;  "  those  that  fell  not  im- 
mediately back  into  the  crater,  rolled  down  among 
the  snows  on  the  mountain-side,  and  were  there 
extinguished." 

*'  Very  well,  sefior — When  you  are  mounted, 
you  can  remember  the  fire-stones,  and  make  your 
choice  whether  to  tumble  back  into  the  fire  of 
wrath,  that  now  sends  you  upward,  or  to  quench 
yourself  for  ever  in  the  frozen  bed  of  degradation. — 
You  go  to  Tochtepec  ?" 

"  1  do,"  said  Juan,  somewhat  angrily ;  "  and  I 
warn  thee,  thy  malicious  metaphors  will  not  make 
me  less  grateful  for  the  kindness  that  sends  me." 

"  God  rest  you — it  were  better  you  had  accepted 
the  embassy  to  Guatimozin." 

"  Hah !"  said  Juan,  "  how  knowest  thou  of  this  1 
It  was  spoken  only  in  secret  council  3" 

"  Oh,"  said  Villafana,  with  a  second  laugh,  "  if 
thou  wilt  but  scratch  on  one  end  of  a  long  log,  be 


128  THE  INFIDEL. 

snro  I  will  hear  it  at  the  other.    There  is  something 
more  in  the  world  than  magic." 

He  spoke  with  marked  exultation  ;  indeed  Juan 
iiad  already  observed  that  his  carriafre  was  freer 
and  bolder  than  common,  and  that  he  bore  himself 
like  a  man  who  cares  not  wholly  to  conceal  a  tri- 
umph of  spirit,  which  he  thinks  it  not  needful  alto- 
gether to  divulge. 

*'  Harkee,  seiior  Don  Juan,"  he  went  on,  abruptly 
and  inquisitively,  "  thou  art  good  friends  with  Xico- 
tencal  ?" 

"  So  far  as  a  Christian  man  can  be  with  one, 
who,  though  a  very  noble  being,  is  yet  a  misbe- 
liever." 

"  And  thou  wert  sworn  friends,  at  Mexico,  with 
the  young  prince,  Guatimozin  7" 

"  Not  so,"  said  Juan  :  "  the  young  man  kept  aloof 
from  us  all,  being  of  the  hostile  party  ;  and  there 
was  scarce  one  of  us  who  had  ever  seen  his  face. 
I  must  confess,  however,  if  I  can  believe  Techee- 
chee,  that  my  preserv^ation  in  the  expedition  was 
owing  to  his  good  act ;  for  Techeechee  avers,  that 
it  was  through  Guatimozin's  good  will  that  he  was 
sent  with  me,  to  secure  me  from  the  death  which 
was  designed  for  all  the  rest  of  the  party." 

"  Designed  1  dost  thou  allow  it  then  ?"  cried  the 
Alguazil,  quickly. 

"  Ay,"  replied  Juan,  dryly ;  "  designed  by  the 
Mexican  lords,  but  not  by  Christian  leaders." 

"  And  art  thou  not  sorry  thou  wert  not  desjvitched 
to  him  as  envoy?" 

"  Why  need  we  talk  of  this  ?"  said  Juan,  hesitat- 
ing. "  Guatimozin  the  king,  may  be  different  from 
Guatimozin  the  prince." 

"  He  is  not  yet  the  king,"  said  Villafana.  "  He 
will  not  be  crowned  till  the  day  of  the  great  war- 
festival,  and  not  then,  unless  he  can  furnish  a 
Spaniard  for  the  sacrifice.  Ffaith,  he  loves  not  the 
blood  of  his  red  neighbours." 


THE  INFIDEL.  129 

"  Villafana,"  said  Juan,  struck  with  certain  un- 
easy suspicions,  "  thou  seemest  better  acquainted 
with  these  things  than  becomes  a  true  follower  of 
Don  Hernan." 

"  Not  a  whit,  not  a  whit,"  cried  the  Alguazil, 
hastily  :  "  this  is  but  the  common  talk, — the  com- 
mon talk,  senor  ;  and  I  am  but  a  fool  to  indulge  in 
it,  to  the  prejudice  of  other  business  more  urgent. 
Come,  seiior, — will  you  walk  in  the  garden )  There 
is  a  friend  to  speak  with  you." 

"  What  friend  ]"  said  Juan. — "  Villafana,  I  half 
suspect  you  are  engaged  in  some  foul  work.  I  will 
have  naught  to  do  with  it." 

"  Lo  you  now,"  said  the  Alguazil,  impatiently ; 
"  this  is  wild  work.  Do  you  think  I  will  assassi- 
nate you  1  Ho !  this  is  a  thing  thy  best  friend  would 
entrust  to  another.  Come,  senor ; — you  have  your 
rapier, — you  can  take  your  casque,  too,  if  you  have 
any  fear.  It  is  a  friend,  who  has  that  to  say  which 
it  concerns  your  life  to  know.  You  know  not  your 
danger.  God  be  with  you,  and  your  blood  be  upon 
your  own  head !  If  you  refuse,  you  will  not  repent 
you : — no,  faith — you  will  not  have  time  left  for 
lamentation. — Farewell,  seiior, — " 

"  Stay,  Villafana,"  exclaimed  Juan,  much  disturb- 
ed :  "  Friend  or  foe, — it  is  not  that  which  stays  me, 
but  the  fear  of  being  entrapped  into  something  more 
to  be  dreaded  than  death.  Thou  art  a  schemer ; 
it  is  thy  nature :  I  will  have  nothing  to  do  with  thy 
plots,  or  with  those  who — " 

"  Pho  !  this  concerns  thyself  alone,  not  me.  My 
only  plot  is  to  help  one  who  desires  to  drag  thee 
out  of  the  fire  thou  art  so  bent  to  burn  in.  I  take 
you  to  your  friend,  and  depart :  I  have  other  things 
to  occupy  me.  I  am  but  a  messenger.  Will  you 
go  ?  I  must  give  you  a  token  then. — You  have  not 
forgotten  Hilario  ]" 

At  these  words,  muttered  under  breath,  Juan 
started  and  turned  pale,  exclaiming. 


130  THE  INFIDEL. 

"  Saints  and  angels  1  and  heaven  forbid  !  Mine 
ears  did  not  then  deceive  me  ?  Oh  wo  to  us  all  ! 
Alas  for  thine  ill  news  I  Have  I  not  pain  enough  of 
mine  own  !" 

As  he  spoke,  with  a  trembling  voice,  Villafana 
handed  him  his  cap  and  sword,  saying,  as  he  put 
into  his  hand  the  latter,  which  was  a  light  rapier, 

"A  good  blade!  and  has  hung  at  Don  Hernan's 
girdle. — Leave  the  dog  behind  :  he  will  but  set  up 
his  cursed  growling,  and  so  bring  upon  you  some 
one  who  may  not  relish  the  meeting." 

"  It  is  true,  then  3"  cried  Juan,  with  tones  and 
aspect  of  the  greatest  distress  :  "  So  fair,  so  young, 
so  noble,  so  fallen  !" 

"  Back,  cur  !  thick-lips  !  Befo  !"  cried  the  Algua- 
zil,  as  the  two  left  the  chamber. — "  He  grumbles  at 
me,  as  if  to  say  Ehem,  with  disdain.  Command 
him  thyself:  he  is  a  superfluous  companion." 

The  young  man  waved  his  hand  to  Befo ;  at 
which  signal  Befo  threw  himself  upon  his  haunches, 
looking  after  Juan  till  he  beheld  him  issue  from  the 
long  passage  into  the  open  air.  Then  rising,  with 
the  air  of  a  servant  who  understands  his  duty 
much  better  even  than  his  master,  he  followed 
slowly  after  the  pair  into  the  garden. 


THE  INFIDEL.  131 


CHAPTER  X. 


The  royal  garden  of  Tezcuco  was  an  extensive 
piece  of  ground,  fenced,  on  three  sides,  by  the  pa- 
lace and  its  dependencies,  and  bounded  on  the 
fourth,  by  the  waters  of  the  lake,  from  which  it  was 
divided  by  a  low  wall,  long  since  broken  down  by 
the  Conquerors,  by  certain  shadowy  buildings,  and 
by  clumps  of  noble  cypresses  and  other  trees.  The 
moon,  not  yet  near  her  full,  shone  westward  of  the 
meridian,  in  a  sky  intensely  azure  and  almost 
cloudless ;  and  her  beams  could  be  traced,  through 
the  wall  of  cypresses,  glittering  and  dancing  on  the 
light  waves,  as  they  rippled  up  merrily  to  the  night- 
breeze.  What  taste  was  displayed  in  the  plan  and 
cultivation  of  the  garden,  could  not  be  determined, 
at  this  hour,  and  in  this  insufficient,  though  beauti- 
ful, light.  One  could  behold,  indeed,  obscurely, 
flower-beds  and  shrubberies,  winding  alleys  and 
hanging  groves,  little  still  pools  and  even,  here  and 
there,  a  jetting  fountain,  scattered  about  in  a  man- 
ner which  the  imagination  might  believe  was  de- 
signed and  judicious ;  but  it  seemed,  at  night,  rather 
a  wilderness,  in  which  the  nostrils  had  greater  rea- 
son to  be  gratified  than  the  eyes.  A  thousand 
odours  fell  from  the  trees,  a  thousand  scents  rose 
from  the  flowers,  as  the  heads  of  the  one  and  the 
petals  of  the  other  were  shaken  by  the  flitting  gusts. 
It  was  a  scene  calculated  at  least  to  soothe  exas- 
perated feelings,  and  induce  sentiment  and  melan- 
choly in  the  breast  of  the  contemplative. 

To  Juan's  temperament,  it  would  have  been,  at 
any   other   moment,  saddening  enough ;    but  his 


132  THE  INFIDEL, 

thniiL'-hts  were,  at  present,  far  too  miicli,  and  far  too 
paiiifiiUy,  engaged,  to  permit  any  to  be  wasted  upon 
it. 

As  he  followed  hastily  at  tlie  heels  of  the  Algua- 
zil,  he  made  one  or  two  agitated  attempts  to  draw 
from  him  some  further  tokens  to  remove  or  confirm 
his  boding  suspicions ;  but  the  Alguazil  had  on  the 
sudden  grown  ver}'  cautiously  or  very  maliciously 
silent,  and  answered  only  by  pressing  his  finger  on 
his  lijis,  eyeing  the  youth  significantly,  and  hurry- 
ing him  more  rapidly  along. 

He  led  him  to  a  spot,  almost  in  the  centre  of  the 
garden,  where  a  little  oval-shaped  pool  lay  embo- 
somed among  schinus-trees,  whose  long  weeping 
branches,  stirred  by  the  wind,  swei)t  gracefully 
over  and  in  the  water,  which  was  only  agitated, 
when  thus  disturbed  by  the  motion  of  a  bough,  or 
by  the  ])lunge  of  the  fragrant  berries,  the  harvest  of 
a  former  year,  which  dropjied  at  intervals  from  the 
cluster.  A  single  moonbeam  found  its  way  into 
this  solitary  inclosure,  foiling  upon  a  limited  portion 
of  a  path  which  seemed  to  surround  the  pool.  In 
other  respects,  all  was  dark  and  invisible,  and  not 
a  ray  could  be  seen  on  the  water,  save  when  the 
spectator,  peering  over  the  brink,  beheld  some  faint 
star  of  the  zenith  glimmering  down  among  the 
shadowy  depths. 

Upon  this  path,  and  in  this  moonbeam,  the  Al- 
guazil paused,  and  pointing  hastily  to  a  nook — the 
darkest  of  all  where  all  were  dark, — Juan  perceived 
obscurely  what  seemed  a  moving  figure.  The  next 
moment,  Villafana  passed  among  the  boughs,  re- 
tracing his  steps,  and  strode  again  into  the  moon- 
light. As  he  stood  an  instant  shaking  the  dew- 
drops  from  his  cloak,  he  beheld  a  dark  objcx^t  ap- 
proaching slowly  on  the  path.  It  was  the  faithful 
Befo,  who,  with  his  head  to  the  ground,  and  his  tail 
draggling  in  the  grass,  as  if  sensible  of  having  com- 
mitted a  breach  of  discipline,  yet  crawled  along 


THE  INFIDEL.  133 

after  his  master,  under  the  h'resistible  instinct  of 
fidelity. 

"  This  is  ill  thought  on,  and  may  be  unlucky," 
muttered  Villafana,  with  a  subdued  voice.  "  Here, 
Befo !  you  rascal !  come  with  me,  and  you  shall 
have  a  bone. — Ay,  thou  ill  devil !"  he  continued,  in 
the  same  whispered  tones,  as  Befo,  without  stirring 
to  the  right  or  the  left,  and  merely  showing  his 
teeth,  when  the  Alguazil  seemed  disposed  to  check 
him  with  his  hand,  passed  on  towards  the  grove, — 
"  go  thy  ways,  and  growl  as  thou  wilt :  thou  art 
the  only  thing  in  the  land  incorruptible.  But  thou 
wilt  be  acquainted  with  my  dagger  yet,  if  thou  hast 
no  better  appetite  for  my  dinner." 

He  resumed  his  path.  He  had  not  taken  a  dozen 
steps,  before  he  became  sensible  of  the  approach  of 
another  intruder :  but  this  time  the  intruder  was 
human.  There  was  something  in  the  fashion  and 
sweep  of  the  garments,  which,  even  at  a  distance, 
apprized  him  of  the  character  of  the  comer. 

"  The  devil  take  these  prying  priests,  monks, 
friars,  and  all !"  he  muttered  irreverently  betwixt 

his    teeth. — "  Holy  father, Hah  !  by  the  mass, 

is  it  thou,  Camarga !  my  brother  of  all  orders, 
monkish,  mendicant,  martial,  and  so  on?  Thy 
masking  goes  the  wrong  way :  I  told  thee  to  meet 
me  at  the  prison.  'Tis  my  palace,  man ;  and  the 
princes  are  in  waiting. — Come,  these  damp  mazes 
are  ill  for  thy  years  and  diseased  liver.  We  will 
walk  together." 

"  Seiior  Grunidor,  as  they  call  you,"  said  Ca- 
marga, flinging  back  the  white  cowl,  and  revealing 
his  sallow  features  in  the  moonshine,  "  senor  Al- 
guazil, carcelero,  rogue,  conspirator,  devil,  and 
what-not,  how  I  came  to  be  so  deep  among  your 
damnable  devices,  in  the  short  month  I  have  been 
in  this  land,  I  know  not,  except  that  I  have,  like 
thyself,  a  greater  aptitude  to  be  groping  among 
caverns  than  journeying  on  kings'  highways.     But 

VOL.  I.  12 


134  THE  INFIDEL. 

know,  sirrah,  that  besides  thy  subtleties,  I  have 
some  wliimseys  of  my  own  ;  to  which,  when  the 
wind  stirs  them,  yours  must  give  place,  were  they 
ten  thousand  times  more  macrnificent  than  your 
wit  strives  to  make  them  ajij^ear.  Begone,  there- 
fore; get  thee  to  thy  scurvy  Tlascalan,  whom  thou 
art  training  to  the  gallows  ;  to  thy  Mexican  Magni- 
lico,  who  is  an  ass  to  trust  his  neck  to  thy  keeping ; 
and  to  what  vagabond  Christians  will  give  thee 
their  countenance,  who  are  e'en  greater  fools  than 
thyself,  and  the  Indians  together.  Get  thee  away : 
I  have  business  of  mine  own ;  and  I  will  come  to 
you  when  it  is  despatched,  or  I  will  not  come, — 
just  as  the  imp  urges  me.  So  away  with  you,  and 
leave  me  to  myself" 

"  Under  your  favour,  no,"  said  Villafana,  appa- 
rently too  well  acquainted  with  the  man  to  be  much 
surprised  at  a  tone  and  manner  so  unlike  to  those 
which  Camarga  had  used  at  the  cypress-tree :  "  I 
must  e'en  have  your  saintly  cowl  and  leaden  cross, 
to  swear  the  two  infidels  together  :  otherwise  there 
is  no  trusting  them. — They  have  much  supersti- 
tious reverence  for  our  priests  and  ceremonies. 
Come,  seiior;  I  tell  thee,  the  Mexican  will  make 
our  fortunes." 

"  Thine,  rogue,  thine  /"  said  the  disguised  Ca- 
marga, impatiently :  "  Why  talkest  thou  to  me  in 
this  stupid  wise  ]  I  am  an  older  villain  than  thou.^ — 
I  have  a  fancy  for  this  lad  of  the  Anakim,  this  thick- 
witted,  turtle-brained  young  Magog.  Thou  makest 
a  mystery  of  him,  too.  'Slid  !  I  will  penetrate  it ; 
for  1  have  a  use  to  make  of  him,  as  well  as  thou." 

"  Demonios !"  said  Villafana;  "are  you  seeking 
Juan  Lerrna  ?" 

"  Ay,  marry.  I  dogged  thee  hitherward,  I  saw 
thee  hide  him  in  the  bush,  and  by  St.  Dominic, 
(who  will  fry  my  soul  to  cinders,  for  defiling  his 
garments — -pcccavi  I)  I  will  know  what's  i'  the 
wind  betwixt  yon,  ere  1  stir  a  step  further  in  your 


THE  INFIDEL.  135 

counsels.  Dost  thou  think  I  will  be  thine  accom- 
plice, and  have  anything  hidden  from  me  7  Thou 
swearest,  he  is  to  be  murdered  to-morrow,  too. 
There  is  no  time  to  be  lost." 

"  Thou  art  mad,"  said  Villafana :  "  he  is  engaged 
on  our  business.  I  make  no  mystery ;  I  will  tell 
you  all.  It  is  well  I  met  thee.  He  has  company, — a 
good  sword, — and  would  think  no  more  of  lunging 
through  thy  holy  lion's  skin,  if  he  caught  thee  eaves- 
dropping— " 

"  Hark  !  dost  thou  not  hear  tuck  and  corselet  ]" 
said  Camarga,  smiling  grimly,  and  ratthng  the  hilt 
of  a  sword  against  his  concealed  armour.  "  I  must 
know  his  companion  too.  I  tell  thee,  I  will  have 
all  thy  secrets,  or  I  drop  thee,  perhaps  denounce 
thee." 

"  Thou  shalt  have  them,"  said  Villafana,  gradual- 
ly drawing  him  further  from  the  pool.  "  His  com- 
panion is  La  Monjonaza." 

"  Ha !  sits  the  wind  there  1  I  must  have  a  peep 
at  her :  they  say,  she  is  lovely  as  a  goddess." 

"  Thou  wilt  incense  her,"  said  Villafana,  emphati- 
cally. "  By  heaven,  thou  knowest  not  the  temper 
of  this  woman,  which  is  deadly.  Leave  the  two 
cooing  fools  to  themselves.  Our  fortunes, — nay, 
faith,  our  lives,  depend  upon  them.  La  Monjonaza 
is  deep  in  our  secrets, — " 

"  Knave  !"  muttered  the  pretended  friar,  in  a  low 
but  furious  voice,  "  hast  thou  trusted  my  life  in  the 
keeping  of  a  woman?" 

"  Pho,  she  is  an  older  conspirator  than  thou ;  a 
wi£»er,  too,  for  she  can  keep  her  temper.  Out  of 
her  love  for  the  young  man,  we  draw  our  truest 
safety  and  quickest  success." 

"  Her  love !  oh  f u  !  and  is  she  of  this  corrupt 
fickleness,  that  she  will  have  two  lovers  in  one 
hour  ]  But  it  is  the  way  with  these  creatures  !" 

"  They  are  old  lovers,  very  old  lovers,  senor," 
said  Villafana,  endeavouring,  as  he  spoke,  but  in 


136  THE  INFIDEL. 

vain,  to  quicken  tlie  steps  of  Camarfra.  "  You 
shall  hear  the  story. — Juan  Lerma's  father  was 
some  low,  poor,  base  fellow,  killed  in  some  tumult 
at  Isabelvi.  The  old  hidalfjo,  Antonio  del  Milagro, 
took  the  boy  out  of  charity,  first  as  a  servant — " 

"A  servant]  Dios  mio! — Is  he  of  no  better  be- 
ginning ]" 

"  Not  a  jot ;  but  the  old  fellow  liked  him,  and,  in 
the  end,  treated  him  full  as  well  as  his  own  son, — 
a  knavish  lad,  called  Hilario,  some  two  or  three 
years  older  than  Juan." 

'Slife!"  said  Camarga,  "tell  me  no  granddam's 
tale,  with  all  tedious  jiarticulars.  How  came  the 
youth  into  the  hands  of  Cortes  !" 

"  Even  by  setting  out  to  seek  his  fortune,  some- 
what early,  and  getting  to  Santiago,  where  Cortes 
took  him  into  kee])ing.  You  heard  us  say,  that 
Don  Hernan,  when  he  received  his  commission 
from  Velasquez,  sent  Juan  back  to  his  native  island, 
to  recruit  forces.  It  was  natural  he  should  visit 
his  old  friends  at  Isabela.  It  was  here  he  met  with, 
and  quarrelled  about,  Magdalena — " 

"  Magdalena '."  said  Camarga,  with  surprise. 
"  You  swore  her  name  was  Infeliz  !" 

"  Ay ;  but  the  true  one  is  Magdalena.  When 
she  came  from  Spain — " 

"  From  Spain !"  cried  Camarga,  starting :  "  is  she 
not  an  islander  V* 

"  Pho  !  didst  thou  ever  see  a  creature  of  her 
beauty,  born  out  of  Andalusia  3" 

"  I  have  not  seen  her — l)ut  I  will, — yes,  by  all 
the  saints  of  heaven,  I  will, — 1  must. — How  came 
she  to  the  island  J" 

"  Oh,  a-horseback,  I  think,"  said  Villafana  ;  "  for 
the  shij)  was  never  seen  at  Isabela :  never  question 
about  that.  The  two  young  dogs,  Hilario  and 
Juan,  found  her  somewhere,  brought  her  to  old  Mi- 
lagro,  and,  Juan  being  more  favoured  and  better 
beloved  than  Hilario,  who,  to  say  truth,  was  both 


THE  INFIDEL.  137 

Ugly  and  vicious,  they  fought  about  her,  and  Hila- 
rio  was  killed.  Thus,  Juan  was  left  the  master  of 
the  beauty ;  but  being  tired  of  her,  or  afraid  of  old 
Milagro's  vengeance,  or  perhaps  both,  he  fled  again 
to  Cuba,  and  thence  as  you  heard,  came  to  Mexico 
in  a  fusta.  What  brought  Magdalena  after  him  I 
know  not,  unless  'twas  mad,  raging  love ;  yes,  faith, 
that's  the  cause ;  for  she  cares  not  half  so  much  for 
Don  Hernan.  But  they  did  say,  at  Isabela,  she  had 
a  better  cause ;  for  the  ship,  it  was  well  known — " 

"  Fool  of  all  fools !"  said  Camarga,  with  a  strange 
and  unnatural  laugh,  "  didst  thou  not  say  the  ship 
was  never  seen  at  Isabela  V 

"  Ay,  truly  ;  but  it  was  seen  on  the  rocks  at  the 
Point  of  Alonso,  not  many  leagues  distant,"  replied 
Villafana  ;  and  then  added,  "  I  would  thou  couldst 
be  more  choice  of  thine  epithets  of  endearment. 
These  '  knaves,'  '  rogues,'  and  '  fools,'  do  well 
enough  among  friends ;  but  one  may  season  dis- 
course too  strongly  with  them,  even  for  the  rough- 
est appetite. — The  ship  was  a  wreck :  there  was 
said  to  be  foul  work  about  it ;  but  that's  neither 
here  nor  there.  The  girl  was  brought  ashore  by 
the  young  men,  Juan  being  good  in  the  manage- 
ment of  a  skiff", — indeed,  a  notoriously  skilful  and 
fearless  sailor.  What  was  said  of  Magdalena,  was 
this,"  continued  the  Alguazil,  with  a  low,  confiden- 
tial voice  :  "  It  was  discovered,  or  at  least  conjec- 
tured, that  the  ship  was  no  other  than  the  Santa 
Anonciacion,  a  vessel  sent  from  Seville  with  a  bevy 
of  nuns, — faith,  some  worshippers  of  thine  own 
good  St.  Dominic, — who  were  to  found  a  convent  at 
the  Havana.  It  was  whispered,  that  the  fair  Mag- 
dalena was  even  one  of  the  number,  and  therefore 
— But  the  thing  must  be  plain  !  To  be  a  nun,  and 
to  love  young  fellows  /?«?'  amours — this  is  a  matter 
for  the  Inquisition.  But  thanks  be  to  God,  we  have 
no  good  Brothers  in  Mexico !— I  will  tell  thee  more, 
as  we  walk,  and  show  thee,  if  thou  hast  not  the  wit 

12^ 


138  THE  INFIDEL. 

to  see  it,  how  much  it  concerns  us  to  have  a  friend 
like  La  Monjonaza." 

"  I  have  heard  enough,''  said  Camarga,  with  tones 
deep  and  hoarse ;  "  enough,  and  more  than  enough. 
And  this  woman  was,  theih  the  leman  of  Juan 
Lerma,  and,  now,  the  creature  of  Cortes  !" — Here 
he  muttered  something  to  liimself  Then,  speaking 
with  an  audible  voice,  he  said, 

"  Get  thee  to  thy  den,  and  look  to  thyself:  there 
is  danger  afloat,  and  full  enough  to  excuse  me  from 
meddling  with  thee  to-night.  There  is  a  force  of 
men  concealed  near  to  the  prison,  and  commanded 
by  Guzman.  Ask  no  questions — look  to  thyself: 
thou  art  suspected." 

At  tliese  words,  Villafana  became  greatly  alarmed, 
and  exchanging  but  a  few  words  more  with  Ca- 
marga, hastily  departed.  He  was  no  sooner  gone, 
than  Camarga,  yielding  to  an  emotion  he  had  long 
suppressed,  fell  upon  his  knees  and  uttered  wild 
prayers,  mingled  with  groans  and  maledictions,  all 
the  while  beating  his  breast  and  brows.  Then 
rising  and  whipi)ing  out  his  sword,  as  if  to  execute 
some  deadly  purpose  of  vengeance,  he  strode  to- 
wards the  pool. 


THE  INFIDEL.  139 


CHAPTER  XL 


No  sooner  had  the  Alguazil  departed  from  the 
enclosure,  than  the  figure  which  Juan  had  beheld 
obscurely  among  the  shadows,  stepped  slowly  into 
the  moonshine,  looking  like  a  phantom,  because  so 
closely  shrouded  from  head  to  foot  that  nothing 
was  seen  but  the  similitude  of  a  human  being, 
wrapped,  as  it  might  be  imagined,  in  a  gray  wind- 
ing-sheet. The  thick  hood  and  veil  concealed  her 
countenance,  and  even  her  hands  were  hidden 
among  the  folds. 

It  seemed,  for  a  moment,  as  if  she  were  about  to 
speak,  for  low  murmurs  came  inarticulately  from 
the  veil.  As  for  Juan  himself,  he  was  kept  silent 
by  the  most  painful  agitation.  At  last,  and  when 
it  appeared  as  if  the  unhappy  being  was  conscious 
that  no  other  mode  of  revealment  was  in  her  power, 
she  raised  her  hand  to  her  head,  and  the  next  mo- 
ment, the  hood  falling  back,  the  moonbeams  fell 
upon  the  exposed  visage  of  La  Monjonaza.  It  was 
exceedingly,  indeed  deadly,  pale  ;  and  the  gleaming 
of  her  dewy  forehead  indicated  how  feebly  even 
her  powerful  strength  of  mind  contended  with  a 
sense  of  humiliation.  She  made  an  effort  to  ele- 
vate her  head,  to  compose  her  features  into  wo- 
manly dignity,  but  all  in  vain ;  her  hands  sought 
each  other,  and  were  clasped  together  upon  her 
breast,  her  lips  quivered,  her  head  fell,  and  her  eyes, 
after  one  wild,  brief,  and  supplicating  glance,  were 
cast  upon  the  earth. 

"  Alas,  Magdalena !"  exclaimed  Juan,  with  tones 


140  THE  INFIDEL, 

of  the  deepest  feeling,  "  do  I  see  you  liere,  do  I  see 
you  thus?'''' 

At  these  words  she  raised  lier  liead,  with  a  sud- 
den and  convulsive  start,  as  if  tlie  imputation  they 
conveyed  had  stung  her  to  the  soul ;  and  as  she 
bent  her  eyes  ujion  Juan,  though  they  were  filled 
with  tears,  y(^t  they  flashed  with  what  seemed  a 
nol^le  indignation.  But  this  was  soon  changed  to 
a  milder  and  sadder  expression,  and  the  flush  which 
had  accompanied  it,  was  quickly  replaced  by  her 
former  paleness. 

"  Thou  dost  indeed  see  me  here,"  she  replied, 
summoning  her  resolution,  and  speaking  firmly, 
"and  tliou  seest  me  thus, — degraded,  not  in  tliino 
imagination  only,  but  in  the  suspicions  of  all,  down 
to  tlie  level  of  scorn.  Yes,"  she  continued,  bitterly, 
"  and  while  thou  pitiest  me  for  a  shame  endured 
only  for  thyself, — endured  only  that  I  may  requite 
thee  with  life  for  life, — thou  art  sorry  thy  hand  ever 
snatched  me  from  the  billows.  Speak,  Juan  Ler- 
ma,  is  it  not  so]" 

"  It  had  been  better,  Magdalcna,"  said  the  youth, 
reproachfully,  "  for,  besides  that  the  act  caused  me 
to  1)0  stained  with  blood,  it  afflicts  me  with  a  curse 
still  more  heavy.  I  do  not  mourn  the  death  of 
Hilario,  as  I  mourn  the  downfall  of  one  whom  I 
once  esteemed  almost  a  seraph." 

"  Villain  that  he  was !"  cried  Magdalena,  with 
vindictive  impetuosity,  "  mean  and  malignant  in  life 
and  in  death  !  who,  with  a  lie,  living,  destroyed  the 
peace  and  the  fame  of  the  friendless,  and  died  with 
a  lie,  that  ])oth  miirht  remain  l)]igiited  for  ever !  O 
wretch  !  O  wretch !  there  is  no  punishment  for 
him  among  the  fiends,  for  he  was  of  their  nature. 
And  thou  mournest  his  death,  too!  Thou  cursest 
the  hand  tliat  avenged  the  wrong  of  a  feeble  wo- 
man !" 

"  I  lament  that  I  slew  the  son  of  my  benefactor," 
said  Juan,  with  a  deep  sigh ;  and  then  added  with 


THE  INFIDEL.  141 

one  still  deeper,  "  but,  sinner  that  I  am,  I  rejoice 
while  looking  on  thee,  in  the  fierce  thought,  that  I 
killed  the  destroyer  of  innocence." 

"  The  destroyer  of  innocence  indeed,"  replied 
Magdalena,  with  a  voice  broken  and  suffocating. 
"  Yes,  innocence !"  she  exclaimed  more  wildly,  "  or 
at  least,  the/ame  of  innocence!  for  innocence  her- 
self he  could  not  harm.  No,  by  heaven !  oh,  no ! 
for  what  I  came  from  the  sea,  that  I  am  now  ;  yes, 
now,  I  tell  thee,  now !  and  if  thou  darest  give 
tongue  to  aught  else,  if  thou  darest  think — Oh  hea- 
ven !  this  is  more  than  I  can  bear  !  Say,  Juan 
Lerma  !  say  !  dost  thou,  too,  believe  me  the  thing 
I  am  called  ?  the  base,  the  fallen,  the  degraded  1" 

"  Alas,  Magdalena,"  replied  Juan,  to  the  wild  de- 
mand :  "  with  his  dying  lips,  Hilario " 

"  With  his  dying  lips,  he  perjured  his  soul  for 
ever !"  exclaimed  Magdalena, "  for  ever,  for  ever  !" 
she  went  on,  with  inexpressible  energy  and  fury ; 
"  and  may  the  curse  of  a  broken-hearted  woman, 
destroyed  by  his  defaming  malice,  cling  to  him  as 
long,  scorching  him  with  fresh  torments,  even  when 
fiends  grow  relentful  and  forbearing.  Mountains 
of  fire  requite  the  coals  he  has  thrown  upon  my 
bosom  !  May  God  never  forgive  him !  no,  never  ! 
never !" 

"  This  is  horrid !"  said  Juan.  "  Revoke  thy 
malediction:  it  is  impiety.  Alas,  alas!"  he  con- 
tinued, moved  with  compassion,  as  the  singular 
being,  passing  at  once  from  a  sibyl-like  rage  to  the 
deepest  and  most  feminine  abasement  of  grief, 
wrung  her  hands,  and  sobbed  aloud  and  bitterly ; 
"  Would  indeed  that  thou  hadst  perished  with  the 
others  !" 

"  Would  that  I  had !"  said  Magdalena,  more 
calmly  ;  "  but  thou  hadst  then  been  left  to  a  malice 
like  that  which  has  slain  me. — No,  not  like  that ; 
for  it  is  content  with  thy  life! — I  would  ask  thee 
more  of  myself,"  she  went  on,  more  composedly, 


142  THE  INFIDEL. 

after  a  little  pause,  "  but  it  needs  not.  If  I  can 
show  thee  thou  wroiiaest  me  concerning  Hilario, 
canst  thou  not  believe  I  may  be  even  here  without 
stain?  Well,  I  care  not;  one  daj',  thou  wilt  know 
thou  hast  wronir(^l  me.  But  let  the  shame  rest  \\\\on 
me  now;  for  it  needs  I  should  think,  not  of  m5^<elf, 
but  of  thee.  Listen  to  me,  Juan  Lerma  ;  for  fallen 
or  not,  yet  am  I  thine  only  friend  amonc  a  thousand 
enemies.  Give  up  thy  service,  thy  hopes  of  fame 
and  fortune  in  this  land,  and  leave  it.  Leave 
Mexico,  return  to  the  islands.  Thou  hast  marvel- 
lously escaped  a  death,  subtly  and  cruelly  de- 
signed ;  and  now  thou  art  destined  to  an  end  as 
vengeful,  and  perhaps  even  more  inevitable.  Yet 
there  is  one  way  of  escape,  and  there  is  one  mo- 
ment to  take  advantage  of  it.  Leave  Mexico: 
Cortes  is  thy  foe. — Leave  Mexico." 

"  These  are  but  wild  words,  Magdalena,"  said 
Juan,  with  a  troubled  voice.  "  I  would  do  much  to 
remove  thee  from  a  situation,  the  thought  whereof 
is  bitterer  to  me  than  my  own  misfortunes." 

"  Wouldst  thou  ?"  said  Magdalena,  eagerly. 
"  Go  then,  and  I  go  likewise ;  go  then,  and  know 
that  thy  departure  not  only  releases  me  from  a 
situation  of  disgrace,  but  enables  me  to  make  clear 
a  reputation  which  thou — yes,  Mom, — believest  to 
be  sullied  and  lost.  I  am  not  what  I  seem — Saints 
of  heaven,  that  I  should  have  to  say  it !  But  by  the 
grave  of  my  mother,  I  swear,  Juan  Lerma,  thou  doest 
me  as  deep  a  wrong  as  others.  Leave  this  land,  and 
thou  shalt  see  that  the  fame  of  an  angel  is  not  purer 
than  mine  own  scorned  name, — no,  by  heaven,  no 
freer  from  a  deserved  shame.  Thou  shakest  thy 
head ! — I  could  kill  thee,  Juan  Lerma,  T  could  kill 
thee!" — she  went  on,  with  a  strange  mingling  of 
fierce  resentment  and  beseeching  grief;  "  I  could 
kill  thee,  for  I  have  not  deserved  this  of  thee !" 
Then,  changing  her  tone,  and  clasping  her  hands 
submissively,  she  said,  "  But  think  not  of  me,  or 


THE  INFIDEL.  143 

rather  continue  to  think  me  unworthy  of  aught  but 
pity :  think  not,  above  all,  that  what  I  do  is  with 
any  reference  to  myself  No,  heaven  is  my  witness, 
I  claim  of  thee  neither  affection  nor  respect ;  I  am 
content  to  be  mistaken,  to  be  despised.  All  this  I 
can  endure,  and  will,  uncomplaining, — so  that  I  can 
rescue  thee  from  the  danger  in  which  thou  art 
placed.  Leave  this  land :  Don  Hernan  deceives 
thee ;  he  hates  thee,  and  thirsts  after  thy  blood. 
He  has  confessed  it !" 

"  God  be  my  help  !"  said  Juan,  despairingly ;  "  my 
life  is  in  his  hands.     If  this  be  true — " 

"  If  it  be  true !"  repeated  Magdalena :  "  It  is 
known  to  all  but  thyself" 

"  It  is  not  true  !"  exclaimed  the  young  man,  ve- 
hemently :  "  I  have  done  him  no  wrong,  and  he  is 
not  the  detestable  being  you  would  make  him.  If 
he  be,  I  owe  him  a  life — let  him  have  it ;  it  is  in 
his  hands." 

"  Leave  Mexico,"  reiterated  Magdalena.  "  If 
thou  goest  to  Tochtepec,  thou  art  lost.  I  have  it  in 
my  power  to  aid, — nay,  to  secure  thy  escape.  Say, 
therefore,  thou  wilt  consent,  say  thou  wilt  leave 
Mexico !" 

"  It  cannot  be,"  said  Juan,  with  a  sad  and  sullen 
resolution :  "  I  will  await  my  fate  in  Mexico  !" 

"  And  wilt  thou  stand,  like  the  fat  ox,  till  the 
noose  is  cast  upon  thy  neck  ?  till  thou  art  butch- 
ered r' 

"  My  life  is  nothing — I  live  not  for  myself:  the 
redemption  of  others  depends  upon  my  acts.  I 
have  a  duty  that  speaks  more  urgently  than  fear. 
My  lot  is  cast  in  Mexico ;  I  cannot  leave  it." 

As  he  spoke,  with  a  firm  voice,  he  bent  his  looks 
expressively  on  his  companion.  Her  eyes  flashed 
fire,  and  they  shone  from  her  pale  face  like  living 
coals : 

"  Sayst  thou  this  to  me  ]"  she  exclaimed,  her 
voice    trembling    with   fury,    "  sayst  thou  this  to 


144  THE  INFIDEL. 

meV  Thon  advancing  a  step,  and  laying  her 
hand  upon  liis  arm,  she  continued,  her  accents 
sinking  ahnost  into  wiiispers,  they  were  so  subdued, 
or  so  feeble,  "  Lay  not  upon  thy  soul  a  sin  greater 
than  stains  it  already.  Leave  Mexico ;  resolve  or 
die  :  leave  Mexico,  or  perish  ! — Oh,  thou  art  guiltier 
than  thou  thinkest!  Tliou  hast  cursed  Ililario  for 
my  fall:  curse  thyself, — not  Hilario,  but  thyself; 
for  but  for  thee,  but  for  thee,  I  had  been  happy  ! 
yes,  happy,  hajipy  !" 

To  these  words,  Juan,  though  greatly  compas- 
sionating the  distress  of  the  speaker,  would  have 
replied  with  remonstrance ;  but  she  gave  him  no 
opportunity.  She  c(nitinued  to  repeat  over  and 
over  again,  with  a  kind  of  hysterical  pertinacity, 
the  words  '  Leave  Mexico  !  leave  Mexico  !'  so  that 
Juan  was  not  only  prevented  rei)lying,  but  con- 
founded. He  was  relieved  from  embarrassment  by 
a  sudden  growl,  coming  from  the  bushes  at  his 
side.  La  Monjonaza  started  at  the  sound,  and  in 
the  moment  of  silence  that  succeeded,  both  could 
distinguish  the  steps  of  a  man  rapidly  approaching 
the  pool.  At  the  same  instant,  another  growl  was 
heard,  and  Befo,  issuing  from  the  leafy  covert,  took 
a  stand  by  his  master's  side,  as  if  to  defend  him 
from  an  enemy.  The  veil  of  Magdalena  fell  over 
her  visage ;  she  paused  but  to  whisper,  in  tones  of 
such  energy  that  they  thrilled  him  to  the  soul, 
'  Leave  Mexico,  or  die  !'  and  then  instantly  vanished 
among  the  boughs.  It  was  too  late  for  Juan  to  fol- 
low her:  he  had  scarce  time  to  lay  his  hand  upon, 
Befo's  neck  and  moderate  his  ferocity,  befc^re  his 
eyes  were  struck  with  the  strange  spectacle  of  a 
tall  man,  in  the  garb  of  a  Dominican  friar,  his  face 
pale  as  death,  his  hand  holding  a  naked  sword,  who 
strode  into  the  inclosure  and  upon  that  part  of  the 
path  which  was  illuminated  by  the  moonbeams.  No 
sooner  had  he  cast  his  eyes  upon  Juan  than  he  ex- 
claimed, "  Die,  wretch  !"  and  made  a  pass  at  him 
with    his  weapon.     Had   the  lunge    been  skilfully 


THE  INFIDEL.  145 

made,  it  must  have  proved  fatal ;  for  though  Juan 
still  held  the  sheathless  rapier  he  had  brought  from 
his  chamber,  he  was  so  much  surprised  at  the  sud- 
denness of  the  apparition,  that  his  attempt  to  ward 
it  could  not  have  succeeded  against  a  good  fencer. 
A  better  protection  was  given  by  the  faithful  Befo, 
who,  darting  from  Juan's  hand,  against  the  assail- 
ant's breast,  attacked  him  with  a  shock  so  violent, 
that,  in  an  instant,  the  seiior  Camarga  (for  it  was 
he  who  played  this  insane  part)  lay  rolling  upon  his 
back,  his  grizzled  locks  streaming  in  the  pool. 

"  In  the  name  of  heaven,  what  dost  thou  mean, 
and  who  art  thou,  impostor  and  assassin !"  cried 
Juan,  pulling  off  the  dog,  and  helping  Camarga  to 
his  feet.     "  Thou  art  mad,  I  think !" 

There  was  something  in  the  man's  countenance, 
as  well  as  in  the  murderous  attempt,  to  confinn  the 
idea;  for  Camarga's  agitation  was  singular  and 
extreme,  and  he  seemed  unable  to  answer  a  word. 

"  Who  art  thou "?"  continued  Juan  angrily,  im- 
pressed with  the  certainty  that  he  had  seen  the  face 
of  the  assailant  before,  yet  without  knowing  when 
or  where.  "  Confess  thyself  straight,  or  I  will  have 
thee  to  the  Alguazil,  and  see  the  friar's  frock 
scourged  from  thy  base  body !" 

However  eager  and  foreboding  the  young  man's 
curiosity,  it  was  doomed  to  be  disappointed  by  a 
new  interruption.  While  he  yet  spoke,  he  was 
alarmed  by  a  sudden  discharge  of  firearms,  follow- 
ed by  shrieks  and  cries,  at  the  bottom  of  the  gar- 
den; and  presently  the  whole  solitude  was  trans- 
formed into  a  scene  of  tumult  and  uproar.  Lights 
were  seen  flashing  among  the  trees,  and  men  were 
heard  running  confusedly  to  and  fro,  calling  to  one 
another. 

The  last  word  had  hardly  parted  from  his  lips, 
before  the  boughs  crashed  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  pool,  and  a  new  actor  was  suddenly  added  to 
the  scene. 

VOL.  1.  13 


IIG  THE  INFIDEL. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


As  tlie  bushes  parted,  a  tall  figure  sprang  inta 
the  path,  and  running  round  the  pool,  would  in- 
stantly have  been  at  the  side  of  the  two  Castilians, 
who  were  yet  unobserved,  had  it  not  been  tliat 
Befo,  his  ferocity  greatly  whetted  by  his  former  en- 
counter, darted  forward  as  at  first,  with  a  sudden 
roar,  with  inpial  violence,  and  with  similar  success. 
As  the  stranger  fell  to  the  earth  under  an  attack  so 
impetuous  and  unexpected,  he  uttered  an  exclama- 
tion in  which  Juan  recognized  the  language  of 
Mexico.  He  ran  forwards,  guided  by  the  growls 
of  the  beast  and  the  stifled  cries  of  the  man,  (for  the 
spot  on  which  the  two  contended  was  covered  with 
impenetrable  gloom,)  and,  by  accident,  caught  the 
stranger's  arm,  and  felt  that  it  wielded  a  heavy 
macana,  now  uplifted  against  the  animal.  As  his 
other  hand  was  stretched  forward,  again  to  remove 
the  victorious  Befo  from  a  fallen  antagonist,  it  fell 
upon  the  naked  breast  of  a  barbarian. — In  a  mo- 
ment more,  he  had  torn  the  dog  away,  and  dragged 
the  savage  into  the  moonshine,  where  he  had  left 
Camarga  standing,  but  where  Camarga  stood  no 
longer.  He  had  fled  away  in  the  confusion,  unob- 
served, and  now  almost  forgotten. 

Here  Juan  released  the  captive  from  his  power- 
ful grasp,  for  his  rapier  was  in  his  hand,  and  the 
macana  of  the  Mexican  he  had  already  cast  into  the 
pool ;  and  thus  standing,  confiding  as  much  in  the 
aid  of  Befo  as  in  the  menacing  attitude  of  his  wea- 
pon, he  began  to  address  his  prisoner. 


THE  INFIDEL.  147 

"  What  art  thou  V  he  demanded,  in  the  tongue 
which,  as  he  had  boasted,  was  almost  as  familiar  to 
him  as  the  language  of  Spain  :  "  What  art  thou  1 
and  what  dost  thou  here  3" 

Instead  of  answering,  the  Mexican,  gazing  over 
his  conqueror's  shoulder,  seemed  to  survey,  with 
looks  of  admiration  and  alarm,  some  spectacle  be- 
hind his  back.  Juan  cast  his  eye  in  the  direction 
thus  indicated,  and  beheld  the  visage  of  Magdalena, 
recalled  by  the  tumult,  gleaming  hard  by.  In  an 
instant  more,  she  had  vanished,  and  he  turned  again 
to  the  captive,  who,  when  the  vision,  to  him  so  in- 
explicable, had  faded  away,  now  directed  his  atten- 
tion to  an  object  equally  surprising  and  much  more 
formidable  in  his  estimation  than  even  the  redoubt- 
able Juan.  As  he  rolled  his  eyes,  in  mingled  won- 
der, trepidation,  and  anger,  on  the  huge  Befo,  who 
now  stood  regarding  him,  writhing  his  lips  and 
showing  his  tusks,  in  the  manner  with  which  he 
was  wont  so  expressively  to  intimate  his  readiness 
to  obey  any  signal  of  attack,  Juan  had  full  leisure 
to  observe  that  the  Indian  was  a  young  man  not 
above  twenty-three  or  twenty-four  years  old,  of 
good  and  manly  stature,  and  limbs  nobly  propor- 
tioned. His  only  garments  were  a  tunic  and  man- 
tle of  some  dark-coloured  stuff,  but  little  ornament- 
ed, the  former  extending  from  the  waist  to  the 
knees,  the  latter,  knotted,  as  usual,  about  his  throat, 
but  so  disordered  and  torn  by  the  teeth  of  the  dog, 
as  to  leave  the  upper  part  of  his  body  nearly  naked. 
His  only  defensive  armour  was  a  little  round  buck- 
ler of  the  skin  of  the  danta  or  tapir,  not  exceeding 
fourteen  inches  in  diameter,  strapped  to  his  left 
arm.  The  loss  of  the  macana  had  left  him  without 
any  offensive  weapon.  As  he  raised  his  head  at 
the  second  salutation  of  his  capturer,  he  flung  back 
the  long  masses  of  black  hair  from  his  forehead,  and 
displayed  a  visage,  as  well,  at  least,  as  it  could  be 


148  THE  INFIDEL. 

seen  in  tho  moonlight,  not  unworthy  liis  manly- 
person. 

"  Olin,  the  tongiie  of  the  Teiictli,  is  a  prisoner." 

As  he  pronounced  these  words,  in  his  own  lan- 
fruacre,  sijinifyiiifr  that  he  was  an  orator  of  his 
high  class,  and  that  he  confessed  himself  a  captive, 
he  touched  the  earth  with  his  hand  and  kissed  it, 
in  token  of  submission.  The  tones  of  his  voice 
caused  Juan  to  start. 

He  dropped  his  sword-point,  advanced  nearer  to 
him,  and  perused  his  features  with  intense  curiosi- 
ty. His  gaze  was  returned  with  a  look  of  equal 
surprise,  which  betrayed  a  touch  of  fear ;  for  the 
Mexican  at  once  exclaimed,  withdrawing  a  step 
backward, 

"  The  Great  Eagle  fell  among  the  archers  of  Mat- 
latzinco  !" 

"  The  king  is  not  wise — Guatimozin  is  in  the 
hands  of  Cortes !"  said  Juan,  with  deep  earnest- 
ness. 

"  Olin  is  the  orator — the  king  is  wise,"  replied  the 
Indian,  hastily. 

"  It  is  in  vain,"  said  Juan.  "  Thou  art  Guatimo- 
zin !  and  a  captive,  too,  ere  a  blow  has  been  struck, 
in  the  camp  of  thy  foeman !  Is  this  an  end  for  the 
king  of  Mexico "?" 

"  Q,uauhtimozin  can  die :  there  are  other  kings 
for  the  free  warriors  of  Tenochtitlan,"  replied  the 
young  monarch,  boldly  and  haughtily,  avowing  his 
name, — which  is  here  given  in  its  original  and 
genuine  harslmess,  that  the  reader  may  be  made 
acquainted  with  it ;  though  it  is  not  intended  to  sub- 
stitute it  for  its  more  agreeable  and  familiar  cor- 
ruption :  "  Guatimozin  is  a  prisoner,"  he  continued, 
with  a  firm  voice  and  lofty  demeanour,  "  but  the 
king  of  Mexico  is  free. — When  did  the  Great  Eagle 
become  the  foe  of  Guatimozin  ?" 

"  I  am  not  thy  foe,"  replied  Juan,  "  but  thy  friend  ; 


THE  INriDEL.  149 

SO  far,  at  least,  as  it  becomes  a  Christian  and 
Spaniard  to  be.  I  lament  to  see  thee  in  this  place — 
I  am  not  thy  foe." 

"  Raise  then  thy  weapon,"  said  the  prince,  drop- 
ping his  haughty  manner  and  ceremonious  style, 
and  speaking,  as  he  laid  his  hand  on  Juan's  arm, 
with  fierce  emotion ;  "  strike  me  through  the  neck, 
and  cast  my  body  into  the  pool. — It  is  not  fit  that 
Guatimozin  should  wear  the  bonds  of  Montezu- 
ma !" 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  this  conversation 
took  place  in  quiet.  During  the  whole  time,  on  the 
contrary,  the  garden  continued  to  resound  with  the 
voices  of  men  running  from  copse  to  copse,  from 
alley  to  alley,  sometimes  drawing  nigh,  and,  at  other 
moments,  appearing  to  be  removed  to  the  furthest 
limits  of  the  grounds.  At  the  moment  when  the 
Mexican  made  his  abrupt  and  insane  appeal  to  the 
friendship  of  his  capturer,  a  party  of  Spaniards 
rushed  by  at  so  short  a  distance  and  with  so  much 
clamour,  that  he  had  good  reason  to  conceive  him- 
self almost  already  in  their  hands.  They  passed 
by,  however,  and  with  them  fled  a  portion  of  Juan's 
embarrassment.  As  soon  as  he  perceived  they 
were  beyond  hearing,  he  repUed : 

"  This  were  to  be  thy  foe  uideed.  But,  oh,  un- 
wise and  imprudent !  what  tempted  thee  to  this 
mad  confidence  1" 

"  The  craft  of  Malintzin,"  replied  the  Mexican, 
making  use  of  a  name  which  his  people  had  long 
since  attached  to  Cortes, — "  the  craft  of  Malintzin, 
who  ensnares  his  foe  like  the  wild  Ottomi,  hidden 
among  the  reeds ; — he  scatters  the  sweet  berry  on 
the  lake,  and  steals  upon  the  feeding  sheldrake  ;  so 
steals  Malintzin.  He  sends  words  of  peace  to  the 
foe  afar ;  when  the  foe  is  asleep,  Malintzin  is  a 
tiger !" 

"  And  thou  hast  been  deceived  by  these  perfi- 
dious and  unworthy  artsl"  said  Juan,  the  innuen- 

13* 


150  THE   tXFIDEL. 

does  of  Villafiina  and  the  monitions  of  Magdalena, 
recurrinsr  to  his  mind  with  painful  force. 

♦'  Derpiv(Hl  and  trai)]H'(i  \"  yi'\)\ic(.\  tlio  infidel,  with 
fierce  indijrnation ;  "  cajoled  by  lies,  circumvented 
by  treachery,  sedticcd  and  betrayed  ! — Is  the  Great 
Ea^rle  like  Malintzin  V  As  he  spoke  thus,  sinking 
his  voice,  which  was  indeed  all  the  time  cautiously 
subdued,  he  again  laid  his  hand  on  the  young 
C'hristian's  arm,  and  continued, 

"  Art  thou  such  a  man,  and  dost  thou  desire  the 
blood  of  thy  friend  ?  What  shall  be  said  to  the  little 
Cetitzontli,  the  mocking-bird  ?  The  little  Centzontli 
sang  the  song  to  Guatimozin,  '  Let  not  the  Great 
Eagle  die  in  the  trap  !'  What  sings  she  now  ?  Does 
the  Great  Eagle  listen  to  the  little  Centzontli  V 

"  He  does,"  replied  Juan,  on  whom  these  meta- 
phors, however  mysterious  they  may  seem  to  the 
reader,  produced  a  strong  impression.  "  Thou  art 
my  prisoner,  not  Don  Hernan's ;  and  it  rests  with 
me  to  liberate  or  to  bind,  not  with  him.  Answer 
me,  therefore,  truly ;  for  if  thou  hast  been  trained 
by  treachery  into  this  present  danger,  coming  wdth 
thoughts  of  peace  and  composition,  and  not  with 
an  army,  to  surprise  and  slay,  thou  shalt  be  made 
free,  even  though  the  act  cost  me  my  life." 

"  I  come  in  peace :  does  the  leader  of  an  army 
walk  bareheaded  and  naked  ?  My  canoe  lies  hid 
among  the  reeds :  my  warriors  are  asleep  on  the 
island.  The  Christian  sent  for  a  lord  of  the  city,  to 
give  his  hand  to  the  angry  men  of  Tlascala.  Gua- 
timozin is  not  the  king,  but  he  brought  them  the 
hand  of  the  king. — It  was  the  lie  of  Malintzin  !  I 
am  betrayed  !" 

"  If  I  suffer  thee  to  depart,"  said  Juan,  anxiously, 
"  canst  thou  make  good  thy  escape  1" 

"  Is  not  Guatimozin  a  soldier?"  replied  the  Mexi- 
can, with  a  gleaming  eye.  "  Give  me  a  sword,  and 
hold  fast  the  Christian  tiger." — 

"  Hark  ! — peace  !"  whispered  Juan,  drawing  the 


THE  INFIDEL.  151 

prisoner  suddenly  among  the  boughs :  "  we  are  be- 
set.    Hist,  Befo,  hist !" 

With  a  degree  of  uneasiness,  which  approached 
almost  to  fear,  when  he  found  that  Befo,  instead  of 
following  him  into  his  concealment,  remained  out 
upon  the  illuminated  path,  where  he  attracted  no- 
tice, while  expressing  fidelity,  by  setting  up  an 
audible  growl,  Juan  heard  a  man  crash  through  the 
boughs  on  the  further  side  of  the  pool,  all  the  while 
calling  loudly  and  cheerily  to  his  companions. 

"  Hither,  knaves !"  he  cried ;  "  the  fox  is  in  cover ! 
Hither  !  quick,  hither  !" 

It  was  the  voice  of  Guzman.  He  had  caught  the 
growl  of  the  dog,  and  responded  with  a  shout  of 
triumph,  as  he  ran  forward,  closely  followed  by 
three  or  four  soldiers  armed  with  spears  ; 

"  The  bloodhound  for  ever  !  he  has  the  fox  in  his 
mouth,  I  know  by  his  growling! — Hah,  Befo,  fooH" 
he  continued,  when  he  had  reached  the  animal ; 
"  art  thou  baying  the  moon  then  ? — Pass  on,  pass 
on  :  no  Indian  passes  scotfree  by  Befo  at  midnight 
— Pass  on,  pass  on  !" 

In  a  moment  more,  the  nook  was  left  to  its  soli- 
tude, and  Juan  reappeared,  with  the  prince.  The 
sight  and  voice  of  Guzman  had  stirred  up  his  wrath, 
and  he  took  his  measures  with  a  quicker  and  sterner 
resolution. 

"  He  protects  and  loves  this  man,  who  is  a  vil- 
lain," he  muttered  through  his  teeth.  "  There  is 
nothing  else  left.  Follow  me  prince :  if  we  are  seen, 
thy  fate  is  not  more  certain  than  mine — Follow  me 
in  silence." 

The  garden  was  still  alive  with  men ;  they  could 
be  seen  running  about  in  different  directions,  though 
the  greatest  numbers  seemed  to  be  collected  at  the 
bottom,  near  to  the  lake  side.  It  was  not  from  this 
circumstance,  however,  so  much  as  from  his  igno- 
rance of  every  portion  of  the  grounds  except  that 
by  which  he  had  approached  the  pool,  that  he  bent 


152  THE   INFIDEL. 

his  steps  towards  the  wing  of  the  palace  he  had  so 
lately  left.  He  advanced  cautiously,  takincr  advan- 
tage of  every  clump  of  trees,  which  could  afford 
concealment  from  any  passing  group ;  and  once  or 
twice,  to  allay  susjiicion,  adding  his  voice  to  those 
of  the  others,  as  if  engaged  in  the  same  duty;  in 
which  latter  stratagem  lie  was  ably  seconded  by 
the  unconscious  Befo,  whose  bark,  excited  by  the 
shout  of  his  master,  was  a  sufficient  warrant  to  all 
within  hearing,  of  the  friendly  charactt^r  of  th<^  party. 

Thus  assisted  by  the  undesigned  help  of  the  dog, 
and  by  the  imitative  caution  of  the  Mexican,  he  suc- 
ceeded in  reaching  the  wing  of  the  palace,  and  the 
passage  that  led  to  his  chamber,  which  was  illu- 
mined by  torches  of  resinous  wood.  A  door,  lead- 
ing to  the  oj>en  square  tliat  surrounded  the  pa- 
lace, opened  opposite  to  that  by  which  he  entered 
from  the  garden.  It  was  his  intention,  if  ])ossible, 
to  pass  through  this  into  the  city,  not  doubting  that 
it  would  be  easy  to  conceal  the  fugitive  among  the 
thousand  barbarians  of  his  own  colour  and  aj^pear- 
ance,  who  yet  thronged  the  streets  ;  after  which,  it 
would  not  perhaps  be  impracticable  to  find  some 
way  to  discharge  him  from  the  gates.  But,  imfor- 
tunately,  as  he  pressed  towards  it,  he  found  the  outer 
door  beset  by  armed  men,  thronging  tunniltuously 
in,  as  if  to  join  their  comrades  in  the  garden.  Tiiere 
was  nothing  left  him,  then,  but  to  seek  his  apart- 
ment, as  hastily  as  he  could,  and  there  conceal  tlie 
Mexican  until  the  heat  of  pursuit  was  over.  A  mo- 
tion of  his  hand  apprized  the  fugitive  of  his  change 
of  purpose^  and  Guatimozin,  darting  quirkly  for- 
ward, was  already  ste;iling  into  the  chamber,  when 
a  harsh  voice  suddenly  bawled  behind, 

"  Mutiny  and  miracles  !  here  runs  the  rat  with 
the  viper  !     Treason,  treason  !" 

It  was  the  hunchback  Najara,  whose  quick  eye 
detected  the  vanishing  hair,  and  who  now  ran 
forward  in  pursuit,  followed  by  a  confused  throng 


THE  INFIDEL.  153 

of  soldiers,  from  among  whom  suddenly  darted  the 
cavalier  Don  Francisco  de  Guzman. 

Juan  had  reached  the  door.  The  cry  of  Najara 
assured  him  that  he  was  discovered ;  and  conscious 
that  his  act  of  generosity  was,  or  of  right  ought  to 
be,  considered  little  better  than  sheer  treason,  the 
varied  passions  of  hope,  grief,  indignation  and 
wrath,  which  had  been,  the  whole  ev^ening,  chasing 
one  another  through  his  bosom,  gave  place  at  once 
to  the  single  feeling  of  despair.  He  felt  that  he  was 
now  lost. 

At  this  very  moment,  while  his  brain  was  con- 
fused, and  his  heart  dying  within  him,  a  laugh 
sounded  in  his  ear,  and  he  heard,  even  above  the 
clamorous  shouts  of  the  soldiers,  the  voice  of  Guz- 
man, exclaiming, 

"  What  think'st  thou  now^  senor  ?  Art  thou  con- 
quered 1 — Stand  !  I  arrest  thee." 

He  turned ;  the  cavalier  was  within  reach  of  his 
arm,  and  the  malignant  sneer  was  yet  writhing  over 
his  visage.  The  words  of  scorn,  the  look  of  exulta- 
tion, were  intolerable ;  the  rapier  was  already  naked 
in  his  hand,  and  almost  before  he  was  himself  aware 
of  the  act,  it  was  aimed,  with  a  deadly  lunge,  at 
Don  Francisco's  throat. 

"The  deed  has  slain  thee !"  cried  Guzman,  leap- 
ing backwards,  so  as  to  avoid  a  thrust  too  fiercely 
sudden  to  be  parried,  and  then  again  rushing  for- 
ward, before  he  could  be  supported  by  the  soldiers, 
who  had  also  recoiled  at  this  show  of  resistance ; 
"  the  act  has  slain  thee  ;  and  so  take  the  fate  thou 
art  seeking  !" 

As  he  spoke,  he  advanced  his  weapon,  which  was 
before  unsheathed,  against  an  adversary,  whom  the 
recollection  of  a  thousand  wrongs  had  inflamed  to 
frenzy,  but  who  could  scarcely  be  supposed  to  have 
retained,  during  a  year  of  servitude  and  suffering, 
the  skill  in  arms,  which  once  made  him  an  equal 
antagonist.   Nevertheless,  Guzman's  pass  was  turn- 


154  THE   r?fFIDEL. 

ed  aside,  and  returned  with  such  interest,  that,  had 
the  field  been  fair  and  unincumbered,  it  is  ques- 
tionable how  lono:  he  niiirht  have  lived  to  repeat  it. 
As  it  was,  the  combat  was  cut  slioit  by  the  inter- 
position of  the  bloodhound,  who,  whining,  at  first, 
as  if  unwilling  to  attack  a  cavalier  so  long  and  so 
well  known  as  Don  Francisco,  and  yet  unable  to 
remain  neuter,  at  last  added  his  fierce  yell  to  the 
clash  of  the  weapons,  and  decided  the  battle  by 
springing  against  Guzman's  breast.  It  w^as  per- 
haps fortunate  for  the  cavalier  that  he  did.  He  had 
a  breast-plate  on ;  and,  for  this  reason,  Juan  aimed 
the  few  blows  that  w^ere  made,  full  at  his  throat, 
wuth  the  fatal  determination  of  one,  who,  hopeless 
of  life  himself,  had  sworn  a  vow  to  his  soul  tiiat  his 
enemy  should  die.  It  was  but  the  third  thrust  he  had 
made,  (they  had  scarce  occupied  so  many  seconds,) 
and  it  was  directed  with  such  irresistible  skill  and 
violence,  that  the  point  of  the  weapon  was  already 
gliding  through  Guzman's  beard  and  razing  his 
skin,  when  the  weight  of  Befo's  assault,  for  the  third 
time  successful,  hurled  him  from  his  feet,  and  thus 
saved  his  life,  at  the  expense  of  a  severe  gash  made 
through  his  right  cheek  and  ear. 

The  whole  of  this  encounter,  from  the  first  attack 
to  the  fall  of  Guzman,  had  not  occupied  the  space 
of  twenty  seconds  ;  and  Don  Francisco  was  at  the 
mercy  of  his  rival,  before  even  the  rapid  Najara 
could  advance  a  spear  to  protect  him.  It  was  not 
improl^able  that  Juan  would  have  taken  a  deadly 
advantage  of  the  mishap,  for,  as  he  had  declared, 
in  a  cooler  moment,  he  hated  Don  Francisco,  and 
his  blo(Kl  w^as  now  boiling.  If  such,  however,  was 
his  purpose,  he  was  prevented  putting  it  into  exe- 
cution by  another  one  of  those  opposing  accidents, 
which  seemed  this  night,  to  pursue  him  with  such 
unrelenting  rigour. 

Before  he  could  advance  a  single  step,  a  cavalier, 
bareheaded  and  unarmed,  save  that  he  flourished 


THE  INFIDEL.  155 

a  naked  sword,  sprang  from  the  throng  of  soldiers, 
followed  by  the  seiior  Camarga,  now  without  his 
masking  habit,  the  latter  of  whom  cried  with  fierce 
emphasis,  all  the  time,  "  Kill  him  !  cut  him  down  ! 
kill  him  !"  until  the  soldiers  caught  up  the  cry,  and 
the  whole  passage  echoed  with  their  furious  ex- 
clamations. These  served  but  the  end  of  still  fur- 
ther exasperating  the  choler  of  the  young  man, 
thus  beset  as  it  seemed  by  the  tyranny  of  numbers; 
and  seeing  the  bareheaded  cavalier  advancing 
against  him,  and  already  betwixt  him  and  his  fallen 
rival,  he  turned  upon  him  with  fresh  fury. 

"  Hah  !"  cried  the  new  antagonist,  when  Juan's 
weapon  clashed  against  his  own ;  "  traitor  !  dost 
thou  provoke  thy  fate  7" 

The  words  were  not  out  of  his  lips,  before  Juan 
perceived  that  he  had  raised  his  rapier  against  the 
bosom  of  Cortes.  He  beheld,  in  the  countenance 
which  he  had  once  loved,  the  scowl  of  an  evil  spirit, 
and  the  fire  flashing  from  the  general's  eyes,  was 
no  longer  to  be  mistaken  for  aught  but  the  revela- 
tion of  the  deadliest  hatred.  He  flung  down  his 
sword,  resisting  no  longer,  and  the  next  instant 
would  have  been  run  through  the  body,  but  that 
Befo,  fearing  to  attack,  and  yet  unable  to  resist  the 
impulse  of  fidelity,  sprang  up,  with  a  howl,  and 
seized  the  weapon  with  his  teeth.  Before  Cortes 
could  disengage  it,  and  again  turn  it  upon  the  un- 
fortunate youth,  the  Mexican  fugitive  glided  from 
the  apartment,  threw  himself  before  the  latter,  and 
taking  the  point  of  the  weapon  in  his  hand,  placed 
it  against  his  own  naked  breast.  Then  bowing  his 
head  submissively,  he  stood  in  tranquillity,  expect- 
ing his  death. 

At  his  sudden  appearance,  the  soldiers  set  up  a 
shout,  and  Cortes  was  sufficiently  diverted  from  his 
bloody  purpose,  to  smooth  his  frowning  brow  into 
an  air  of  official  sternness. 

"  Ohn  is  the  prisoner  of  the  Teuctli,"  murmured 


156  THE   INFIDEL. 

the  captive,  in  words  scarce  understood  by  any  one 
present,  except  Juan. 

"  Where  bide  mine  Al^ruazils  ?"  demanded  the 
Captain-General,  witliout  condescending  to  notice 
the  Mexican  any  further  than  merely  by  removing 
the  rapier  from  his  grasp.  "  Plali,  Guzman  !  tliou 
art  hurt,  art  tliou  ?  13y  heaven," — But  he  checked 
the  oath,  when  he  observed  that  Guzman,  already 
on  his  feet,  notwithstanding  the  frightful  appear- 
ance that  was  given  him  by  the  blood  running 
down  his  cheek  and  neck,  and  drippling  slowly 
from  his  beard,  replied  to  the  exclamation  with  a 
smile  of  peculiar  coolness :  "  Get  thee  to  a  surgeon. 
Where  bide  the  Alguazils  ?  Is  there  no  officer  to 
rid  me  of  a  traitor !" 

"  Senor  General,"  said  Juan,  sullenly,  "  I  am  no 
traitor — " 

He  was  interrupted  by  the  appearance  of  two 
men,  carrying  batons,  who  bustled  from  among  the 
crowd,  and  laid  hands  upon  him.  The  readiest 
and  the  most  officious  was  Villafana,  who  concealed 
a  vast  deal  of  agitation  under  an  air  of  extravagant 
zeal. 

"  Ha,  Villafana !  art  thou  found  at  last  1"  cried 
Don  Hernan,  with  apparent  anger.  *'  Hast  thou 
no  better  care  of  thy  ward  on  the  water-side,  but 
that  spies  may  come  stealing  into  my  garden.'" 

"  May  it  please  your  excellency,"  said  Villafana, 
recovering  his  wit,  "  I  was  neither  gambling  nor 
asleep  ;  but — 'Slid,  this  is  a  pretty  piece  of  villany! 
Oho,  senor  mutineer,  this  is  hanging-wi^rk  ? — Speak 
not  a  word,  as  you  love  life." — This  was  spoken 
apart  into  Juan's  ear. — "  What  is  your  excellency's 
will,  touching  the  prisoner?" 

"Have  him  to  prison,  and  see  that  he  escape 
not." 

These  words  were  pronounced  with  a  coolness 
and  gravity  that  amazed  all  who  had  witnessed 
the  rage,  which,  but  a  moment  before,  Imd  shaken 


THE  INFIDEL.  157 

the  frame  of  the  Captain-General.  "  And  you,  ye 
idle  fellows,"  he  continued,  addressing  the  soldiers, 
"  get  you  to  your  quarters,  to  your  \vatch,  or  to 
your  beds.  Begone. — Why  loiter  ye,  Villafana? 
Conduct  away  the  prisoner." 

Juan  raised  his  eyes  once  more  to  the  general, 
and  seemed  as  if  he  would  have  spoken ;  but,  con- 
fused and  bewildered  by  the  extraordinary  termi- 
nation of  the  drama  of  the  day,  chilled  by  frowns, 
oppressed  by  a  consciousness  of  having  provoked 
his  fate,  his  head  sunk  in  a  deep  dejection  on  his 
breast,  and  he  suffered  himself  to  be  led  silently 
away. 

A  gleam  of  light,  such  as  flares  up  at  night  from 
a  decaying  brand,  just  lost  in  ashes,  sprang  up  in 
the  leader's  eyes,  as  they  followed  the  steps  of  the 
unhappy  youth,  until,  passing  from  that  door,  which 
he  had  so  vainly  sought  to  gain  with  the  Mexican,  he 
vanished  from  sight.  Its  lustre  was  hidden  from 
all  but  the  captive,  who,  maintaining  throughout 
the  whole  scene,  the  self-possession,  characteristic  of 
all  the  American  race,  from  the  pygmies  of  the 
Frozen  Sea  to  the  giants  of  Patagonia,  did  not  lose 
the  opportunity  thus  afforded,  of  diving  into  the 
thoughts  of  the  Invader. 

As  soon  as  Juan  Lerma  had  departed,  with  the 
mass  of  the  soldiers,  Cortes  turned  to  the  Mexican, 
and  with  a  mild  countenance,  and  a  gentle  voice, 
which  w^ere  designed  to  convey  the  proper  inter- 
pretation of  his  Castilian  speech,  said, 

"  Let  my  young  friend,  the  Tlatoani,  be  at 
peace,  and  fear  not ;  no  harm  is  designed  him." 

Then,  making  a  signal  to  those  who  remained, 
to  lead  the  captive  after  him,  he  passed  into  the 
garden,  and  thence,  by  a  private  entrance,  into  the 
hall  of  audience, 

VOL.  I.  14 


158  THE  INFIDEL. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


It  has  been  already  mentioned,  that  the  person 
of  Guatimozin  was  familiar  to  few,  or  none,  of  the 
Spaniards.  Intensely  and  consistently  hostile  to 
the  invaders,  from  the  first  moment  of  their  appear- 
ance in  the  Valley,  he  had  ever  kept  a](K)f  from 
them,  and  was  one  of  the  few  princes  of  Mexico, 
whom  neither  force  nor  stratagem  could  reduce  to 
thraldom.  Plis  youth,  indeed, — his  want  of  authority, 
(for  though  of  the  loftiest  birth  and  the  highest  mili- 
tary fame,  he  enjoyed,  at  first,  no  independent  com- 
mand or  government,)  and,  hence,  his  apparent 
insignificance, — had  made  the  possession  of  his  per- 
son of  no  great  consequence  ;  and  it  was  not  until 
he  was  seen  leading  the  incensed  citizens  up  against 
the  guns  of  the  garrison,  and  directing  tlie  assault 
which  terminated  in  the  life  of  Montezuma,  that  he 
began  to  be  considered  an  enemy  worthy  to  be 
feared.  Even  then,  however,  he  was  but  one 
among  the  warlike  followers  of  Cuitlahuatzin, — the 
successor  of  Montezuma, — and  on  the  famous  bat- 
tle-field of  Otumba,  he  fought  only  as  a  second  in 
command.  But  from  that  time  until  the  present 
moment,  his  name  was  constantly  before  the  Span- 
iards, first  as  the  king  of  Iztapalapan,  then  as  a 
leader  among  those  royal  warriors,  sent  forth  by 
Cuitlahuatzin,  now  to  annoy  the  Spaniards,  even 
among  their  fortresses  on  the  borders  of  Tlascala, 
and  now  to  chastise  those  rebellious  tribes 
which  were  daily  acknowdedging  allegiance  to  the 
Spaniard,  and  preparing  to  march  with  him  against 
Tenochtitlan. 


THE  INFIDEL.  159 

The  death  of  Cuitlahuatzin  had  suddenly  ex- 
posed him  to  view  as  the  probable  successor  to  the 
imperial  dignity ;  and  the  act  of  the  royal  electors, 
(the  kings  of  Mexico  were  chosen  by  the  crowned 
vassals  of  the  empire,)  in  bestowing  the  mantle  and 
sceptre,  had  left  nothing  to  be  done  to  confirm  his 
authority,  save  a  solemn  inauguration  on  the  day  of 
an  august  religious  and  national  festival. 

He  had  thus  assumed  the  attitude  which  Monte- 
zuma had  once  preserved  in  the  eyes  of  the  Con- 
quistador ;  and  it  was  as  much  the  policy  of  Cortes 
to  attempt  the  acts  of  delusion  with  him,  as  it  had 
been  with  his  predecessor.  The  craftier  and 
haughtier  Guatimozin  had,  however,  rejected  his 
overtures  with  disdain ;  and,  justly  appreciating  the 
character  and  designs  of  his  enemy,  he  prepared  for 
war  as  the  only  alternative  of  slavery.  He  had 
already  concentrated  in  his  city,  and  in  the  neigh- 
bouring towns,  the  whole  martial  force  of  the  tribes 
yet  valiant  and  faithful ;  he  had  laboured,  with  an 
address  that  was  not  always  ineffectual,  to  regain 
the  false  and  rebellious  ;  and,  rising  above  the 
weakness  of  national  resentments,  he  had  even 
striven  to  unite  his  hereditary  foes  in  a  league  of 
resistance  against  the  stranger,  who,  whether 
frowning  or  smiling,  whether  courting  with  friend- 
ship, or  subduing  with  arms,  was  yet,  and  equally, 
the  enemy  of  all. 

Enough  has  been  said  to  explain  the  purpose  for 
which  he  so  rashly  threw  himself  into  the  power  of 
the  Conqueror.  The  certain  assurance  of  disaffec- 
tion in  the  invader's  camp,  not  only  among  the 
allies,  but  among  the  Spaniards  themselves,  was 
enough  to  fire  his  heart  with  the  desire  of  employ- 
ing against  Don  Hernan  a  weapon  which  his  foe 
had  used  so  fatally  against  him  ;  and,  besides,  the 
opportunity  of  detaching  the  Tlascalans  from  the 
Spanish  interest,  was  too  captivating  to  be  rejected. 
These  were  advantages  to  be  investigated  and  pro- 


160  TTIC  IXFinEL. 

motcd  by  himself,  ratlior  than  by  afjents;  and,  con- 
fiding in  his  enemies'  iirnorance  of  his  person,  in 
his  cunning,  and  in  tlie  interested  fidelity  of  trai- 
tors, who  had  already  grasped  at  bribes,  and  were 
eager  to  be  better  acquainted  with  his  bounty,  ho 
did  not  scruple  to  direct  his  midnight  skiff  among 
the  reeds  on  the  lakeside,  and,  in  the  guise  of  a 
mere  noble,  trust  himself  alone  in  their  power. 

If  the  reader  desire  to  know  what  could  induce 
any  of  the  followers  of  Cortes  to  treat  thus  perfi- 
diously with  the  infidel  enemy  whose  wealth  was 
promised  as  the  certain  guerdon  of  war,  he  may 
be  answered  almost  in  a  word.  The  dangers  of  the 
war  were  manifold  and  obvious  to  all,  and  the  hor- 
rors of  the  five  days'  battles  in  the  streets  of  Mexi- 
co, and  more  than  all,  the  calamities  of  the  midnight 
retreat,  had  given  such  a  foretaste  of  what  might 
be  expected  fi'om  a  prosecution  of  the  campaign, 
that  full  half  the  army  looked  forward  to  it  with 
equal  terror  and  repugnance.  A  majority  of  those 
who  survived  the  Noche  Triste,  were  followers  of 
the  unfortunate  Narvaez,  and  some  of  them  yet 
friendly  to  the  deceived  Velasquez.  They  remain- 
ed with  Cortes  upon  compulsion,  and  tliey  hated 
him  not  only  for  their  inability  to  return  to  their 
peaceable  farms  among  the  islands,  for  past  calami- 
ties, and  coming  misfortunes,  but  for  the  superior 
favours  showered  so  liberally,  and  indeed  so  natu- 
rally, upon  those  who  had  been  his  original,  and 
were  yet  his  faithful,  adherents.  In  a  word,  they 
regarded  the  reduction  of  the  Mexican  empire  as 
hopeless,  and  their  own  fate,  if  they  remained,  as 
already  written  in  characters  of  blood.  The  bolder 
scowled  and  complained,  the  feeble  and  the  crafty 
dissembled,  but  evil  thoughts  and  fierce  resolutions 
were  common  to  all.  They  burned  to  be  released 
from  wliat  was  to  them  intolerable  bondage,  and 
the  means  were  not  to  be  questioned,  even  though 
they  might  involve  connivance  and  collusion  with 


THE  INFIDEL.  161 

the  foe.  But  such  collusion  was  by  no  means 
known,  nor  even  suspected,  by  any  save  the  few 
desperadoes  who  had  risen  to  the  bad  eminence  of 
leaders.  Even  Villafana  was  ignorant  of  the  true 
character  of  his  guest,  and  esteemed  him  to  be 
only  wJiat  he  represented  himself, — Olin,  the  young 
noble,  an  orator,  counsellor,  and  confidential  agent 
of  Guatimozin.  It  was  not  possible  for  the  Cap- 
tain-General to  regard  him  in  any  other  light. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  young  monarch's 
thoughts,  his  secret  misgivings  and  self-reproaches, 
as  he  strode,  closely  environed  by  cavaliers,  into  the 
great  hall,  now  dimly  lighted  by  tapers  of  vegetable 
wax  and  torches  of  fragrant  wood,  they  were  ex- 
posed by  no  agitation  of  countenance  or  hesitation 
of  step ;  and  when  Cortes  ascended  the  platform  to 
his  seat,  and  turned  his  penetrating  eye  upon  him, 
he  preserved  an  air  of  the  most  fearless  tranquillity. 
For  the  space  of  several  moments,  the  general  re- 
garded him  in  silence ;  then  commanding  all  to 
leave  the  apartment,  excepting  Sandoval,  Alvarado, 
and  another  cavaher  who  officiated  as  interpreter, 
he  said  to  Alvarado,  with  a  mild  voice,  very 
strangely  contrasted  with  the  rudeness  of  his 
words, 

"  Look  into  the  face  o-'  this  heathen  dog,  and  tell 
me  if  thou  knowest  him." 

Alvarado  had  been,  as  the  historical  reader  is 
aware,  left  in  Mexico,  the  jailer  of  Montezuma  and 
the  warden  of  the  city,  during  the  absence  of 
Cortes,  when  he  marched  against  Narvaez.  It  was 
supposed,  therefore,  that  Don  Pedro  was  better  ac- 
quainted with  the  persons  of  the  principal  nobles 
than  any  other  cavalier.  He  examined  the  captive 
curiously,  and  at  last  said,  shaking  his  head, 

*'  Methinks  his  visage  is  not  unknown ;  and  yet 
I  wot  not  to  whom  it  belongs.  The  knave  is 
but  a  boy.     If  he  be  a  noble,  never  trust  me  but  he 

14^ 


162  THE  INFIDEL. 

is  ono  of  Gunlimozin's  mnkinsr,  and  therefore  not 
yet  of  consequence." 

At  the  .sound  of  his  own  name,  tlie  only  word 
distingnisliable  by  the  prisoner,  Alvarado  observed 
that  his  brow  contracted  a  little.  But  this  awoke 
no  suspicion. 

"Demand  of  him,"  said  Cortes  to  the  interpreter, 
"his  name,  and  the  purpose  of  his  coming  to  Tez- 
cuco  ?" 

When  this  was  expkiined  to  the  Mexican,  his 
brow  contracted  still  further,  but  rather  with  in- 
quisitiveness  tlian  embarrassment : 

"  I  am  Olin-pilli,"  (that  is,  Olin  the  Lord,  or  Lord 
Olin,)  he  replied,  "  the  speaker  of  wise  things  to  the 
kinc",  and  tlie  mouth  of  n()l)les." 

He  then  paused,  as  if  to  examine  with  what  de- 
gree of  belief  he  was  listened  to ;  and  being  satis- 
fied, from  the  countenance  of  Don  Hernan,  that  he 
w^as  really  imknown,  lie  continued,  with  a  more 
confident  tone, 

"And  I  come  to  the  Lord  of  the  East,  the  Son  of 
the  God  of  Air,  to  hear  the  words  of  his  children. 
Did  not  the  Teuctli  send  for  mel" 

"  Not  I,"  replied  the  Cajitain-General,  sternly. 
"  Speaker  of  wise  things,  I  look  into  thy  heart,  and 
I  see  thy  falsehood.  Thou  art  a  spy, — a  quiini- 
chin, — sent  by  Guatimozin  the  king,  to  speak  dark 
things  to  the  men  of  Tlascala." 

The  captive,  though  somewhat  disconcerted, 
maintained  a  fearless  countenance : 

"  The  Teuctli  is  the  son  of  the  gods,  and  knows 
everything,"  he  answered. 

"  And  charged  also,"  continued  Cortes,  "  to  whis- 
l^er  in  the  ears  of  fools,  who  send  good  words  to  the 
king,  that  the  king  may  enrich  them  with  gold.  Is 
not  this  true,  Sir  (iuimichin  ?" 

"  Is  not  IMalintzin  the  Son  of  Q,uetzalcoatl,  the 
White  God  with  a  beard,  who  proclaimed  from  the 


THE  INFIDEL.  163 

Hill  of  Shouting"^  and  from  the  Speaking  Mountain,! 
the  coming  of  his  offspring  ?  and  shall  Olin  know 
more  things  than  Malintzini  Guatimozin  thinks, 
that  the  Spaniard  should  not  slay  his  people." 

"  Wherefore,  then,  sent  he  not  thee  to  me  .^"  de- 
manded the  Captain-General.  "  I  will  listen  to  his 
words.  It  was  not  wise  to  send  his  ambassador  to 
the  soldier,  when  the  general  sat  by,  in  his  tent- 
Hearken  to  me,  friend  Olin,"  he  continued,  with 
gravity :  "  Hadst  thou  brought  his  discourse  to  me, 
thou  hadst  then  been  listened  to  with  honour,  and 
dismissed  in  peace.     Art  thou  a  soldier  1" 

"  Olin  is  a  counsellor,"  replied  the  Mexican, 
proudly ;  "  but  he  has  bled  in  battle." 

"  And  is  not  Guatimozin  a  warrior  1" 

"  He  is  the  king  of  the  House  of  Darts,  and  he 
has  struck  his  foe." 

"  When  tiie  lurking  Ottomi  is  fiund  skulking  in 
his  camp ;  when  the  angry  Tlascalan  creeps  up  to 
his  fort ;  what  does  Guatimozin  then  with  the  pri- 
soner ?  what  says  he  to  the  Ottomi  ?  what  wills  he 
with  the  Tlascalan  ]" 

"  He  binds  them  to  the  stone,  and  they  die  like 
the  dogs  of  the  altar !"  replied  the  barbarian,  with 
a  fierce  utterance. 

"  Thou  hast  spoken  thine  own  doom,"  replied 
Cortes,  sternly ;  "  only  that,  instead  of  perishing 
according  to  thy  damnable  customs,  a  sacrifice  to 
spirits  accurst,  thou  shalt  have  such  death  as  we 
give  to  the  dogs  of  Castile.  Thou  hast  crept  into 
my  camp,  like  the  spying  Ottomi ;  thou  comest  with 
sword  and  shield,  hke  the  bravo  of  Tlascala;  and 
thou  hast  addressed  thyself  to  traitors  and  conspi- 
rators, to  make  them  mine  enemies.  Why  then 
should  I  not  hang  thee  upon  a  tree '?  or  why,"  he 
continued,  with  an  elevated  voice,  descending  from 

*  Tzafzitepec,  a  mountain  near  Tula, 
f  Catcitepetly  a  volcano. 


164  THE  INFIDEL. 

the  platform,  and,  with  a  single  motion,  unsheath- 
ing his  rapier  and  aiming  it  against  the  captive's 
breast — *' why  should  1  not  kill  thee,  thou  cur! 
upon  the  spot  ]" 

"  I  am  a  Mexican !"  replied  the  young  king,  ra- 
ther opposing  his  body  to  the  expected  thrust  than 
seeking  to  avoid  it ;  "I  look  upon  my  death,  and  I 
spit  upon  thee,  Spaniard  !" 

"  Hah  !"  cried  Cortes,  whose  desire  was  to  inti- 
midate, not  to  slay,  and  who  could  not  but  admire 
the  fearless  air  of  defiance,  so  boldly  assumed  by 
the  ca))tive,  "  thou  hast  either  a  true  heart,  or  a  pene- 
trating eye. — Fear  not ;  thy  life  is  in  my  hands,  but 
I  design  thee  no  wrong :  death  were  but  a  just 
punishment  for  thy  viilany,  yet  I  mean  not  to  en- 
f(MTe  it.  What  wilt  thou  do,  if  I  discharge  thee 
unharmed  !" 

"  I  will  know,"  said  the  barbarian,  with  a  look  of 
surprise,  as  soon  as  this  was  interpreted,  "  that 
Malintzin  is  not  always  hungry  for  blood ;  or  rather, 
I  will  ask  of  my  thoughts,  what  mischief  to  Mexico 
is  meditated  in  the  act  of  mercy." 

"A  shrewd  knave,  i'faith,  a  shrewd  knave!" 
cried  Cortes,  admiringly  :  "  by  my  conscience,  this 
fellow  hath  somewhat  the  wit  of  a  Christian  politi- 
cian.— Infidel,"  he  continued,  "  hearken  to  what  I 
say.  I  desire  to  speak  the  words  of  peace  with  my 
young  brother  Guatimozin.  Wherefore  will  he  not 
listen  to  me  ?" 

"  Because  his  ears  are  open  to  the  groans  of  his 
children,"  replied  the  Mexican,  promptly.  "  When 
Malintzin  smiles,  the  brand  hisses  on  the  flesh  of 
the  prisoner ;  when  he  talks  of  peace,  the  great 
war-horse  paws  the  breast  of  the  dead.  Let  this 
thing  be  not,  let  his  insurgent  subjects  be  sent  to 
their  villages,  and  Guatimozin  will  listen  to  the 
Teuctli." 

"  He  has  slain  my  ambassadors,"  said  Cortes. 

**  Shall  the  slave  say  to  his  master,  *  I  am  the 


THE  INriDEL.  165 

bondman  of  another,'  and  laugh  in  the  king's  face  ] 
Let  Malintzin  send  a  Christian  to  Guatimozin.  I 
will  row  him  in  my  skiff,  and  he  shall  return  un- 
harmed." 

"  What  thinkest  thou  of  this  ?  I  will  send  him 
such  an  envoy,  and  thou  shalt  remain  a  hostage  in 
his  place.  What  will  be  said  to  him  by  the  king  of 
Mexico  ]" 

"  This,"  replied  the  captive,  without  a  moment's 
hesitation :  "  The  Christian  is  in  Mexico,  and  Olin- 
pilli  in  the  prisons  of  Malintzin :  let  the  Christian 
therefore  die." 

"  Ay,  by  my  conscience,  he  speaks  well,"  said 
Cortes.  "  But  were  friendship  offered,  and  twenty 
thousand  hostages  left  behind,  I  should  like  to  know 
what  Spaniard  of  us  all  would  perform  the  pilgrim- 
age 1  Thqre  is  but  0726.- -But  that  is  naught.  By 
heaven  and  St.  John,  we  will  think  of  other 
things!  we  will  think  of  other  things! — Is  it  not 
death  by  the  decree  V 

"  Seiior !"  cried  Alvarado  in  surprise.  Cortes 
started. — In  the  moment  of  entranced  thought,  he 
had  stridden  away  from  the  group  to  some  distance, 
and,  he  now  perceived,  they  were  gazing  at  him 
with  wonder. 

"  We  will  entrust  this  thing  to  him,  then,  as  I 
said,"  he  cried,  hurriedly,  "  and  he  shall  return  with 
the  misbeliever's  answer.  We  have  no  other 
choice.     What  think  ye  of  it,  my  masters  3" 

"  Of  what  F"  said  Alvarado,  bluntly  :  "  You  have 
said  nothing.  By'r  lady,  and  with  reverence  to 
your  excellency,  you  are  dreaming  !" 

"  Pho  !"  cried  the  Captain-General,  "  did  I  not 
speak  it  ?  Our  thoughts  sometimes  sound  in  our 
ears,  like  words.  This  is  the  philosophy  of  the 
marvel :  Hast  thou  never,  when  thine  eyes  were 
shut,  yet  beheld  in  them  the  objects  of  which  thou 
wert  thinking  ]  If  thou  couldst  think  music,  never 
believe  me  but  thou  wouldst  also  hear  it. — This, 
then,  is  the  thought  which  I  forgot  to  utter :  I  will 


166  THE  INFIDEL. 

give  this  dos  his  freedom,  and,  for  lack  of  a  better, 
make  him  my  envoy  to  Guatimozin.  If  he  return,  it 
will  be  well ;  if  not,  we  are  left  where  we  were ; 
and  we  can  hang-  him  heroaftor." 

"  Let  us  first  know,"  said  Sandoval,  coolly,  ♦•  by 
what  sort  of  charm  he  prevailed  on  tliis  mad  young 
man,  Juan  Lerma,  to  peril  limb  and  life  for  him, 
and,  what  is  more,  honour  too." 

"  Ay,  by  my  conscience  !"  said  Cortes,  huniedly ; 
"  this  thing  I  had  forgotten. — He  shall  die  the 
death  !  Connive  with  a  spy]  conceal  him  from  the 
pursuers  ?  draw  sword  upon  a  cavalier  ?  strike  at 
an  officer's  life  1  Were  he  mine  own  brother,  he 
should  abide  his  doom.  Who  will  say  I  wrong 
him  now  ? — Hah  !  what  says  the  dog  }  How  came 
this  thing  to  pass  ]" 

While  Cortes  was  yet  pursuing  the  subject 
nearest  to  his  heart,  half  soliloquizing,  the  question 
was  asked  and  answered ;  and  the  reply,  to  Gua- 
timozin's  great  relief,  was  received  with  unexpect- 
ed belief 

"  He  was  caught  by  the  blood-hound ;  (An  ex- 
cellent dog,  that  Befo!)"  said  Alvarado  ;  "  and  mak- 
ing his  moan  to  Lerma,  (whom  lieaven  take  to  its 
rest !  for  I  know  not  how  he  can  be  so  brave,  and 
yet  an  ass,)  the  young  fool  fell  to  his  old  tricks. 
When  did  an  Indian  ever  ask  him  for  pity  in  vain  ? — 
This  is  his  story  ;  it  is  too  natural  to  be  false ;  yet, 
Indians  are  great  liars. — But  you  said  something  of 
making  this  cur  your  envoy  !" 

"  Ay,"  replied  Cortes  :  "  What  sayst  thou,  Olin, 
speaker  of  wise  things  !  wilt  thou  bear  my  thoughts 
to  thy  master  Guatimozin  !" 

*'  The  lord  of  Tenochtitlan  shall  hear  them,"  said 
Guatimozin,  his  eyes  gleaming  with  expectation. 

"  And  thou  wilt  return  to  me  with  his  answer  1 
Swear  this  upon  the  cross  of  my  sword;  ay,  and 
swear  it  by  thy  diabolical  gods  also." 

"  Guatimozin  shall  send  back  to  Malintzin  a  no- 


THE  INFIDEL.  167 

ble  Mexican ;  or,  otherwise,  Olin  will  return.  How 
shall  the  Mexican  noble  know  that  the  Teuctli  will 
not  take  his  life  ]" 

"  Does  that  deter  you  1"  said  Cortes :  "  I  swear 
by  the  cross  which  I  worship,  that,  come  thou  or 
another,  or  come  Guatimozin  himself,  provided  he 
come  to  me  in  peace,  and  with  the  king's  message, 
he  shall  depart  in  safety,  with  good-will  and  with 
favours  such  as  this." 

As  he  spoke,  he  took  from  his  own  neck,  and 
flung  round  the  Mexican's,  a  chain  of  beads,  which 
were  neither  of  diamond,  sapphire,  nor  ruby,  but 
sufficiently  resembling  each  and  all,  to  gratify  the 
vanity  of  a  barbarian.  The  young  king  smiled — 
but  it  was  at  the  thought  of  freedom. 

"  Thou  shalt  have  more  such,  and  richer,"  said 
Cortes,  misconceiving  his  joy.  "  Why  is  not  Olin 
the  friend  of  Mahntzin  1" 

"  Malintzin  is  a  great  prince,"  said  the  prisoner, 
softly. 

"  Is  Olin  content  to  be  the  slav^e  of  Guatimozin  V 
pursued  the  Captain-General,  insidiously.  "  Will 
Olin  do  Malintzin's  bidding,  and  be  the  king  of 
Chalco  1" 

"  Shall  Olin  slay  Guatimozin  ]"  cried  the  prisoner, 
with  a  gleam  of  subtle  intelligence,  and  so  abruptly, 
that  Cortes  was  startled. 

"  Hah  !  by  my  conscience  !"  he  cried,  "  I  under- 
stand thee :  thou  art  even  more  knave  than  I 
thought  thee. — Kill  the  king  indeed  ?  By  no  means  ; 
harm  not  a  hair  of  his  head :  we  will  have  no  as- 
sassination. It  is  better  this  young  boy  should  be 
king  than  another. — This  is  a  very  proper  knave. 
Gentlemen,  by  your  leave,  I  will  bid  you  good- 
night :  I  will  see  the  dog  to  the  water-side.  Antonio, 
do  thou  walk  with  us,  and  explain  between  us. — 
A  very  excellent  shrewd  villain." 

So  saying,  the  Captain-General  turned  to  the 
door  by  which  he  had  lately  entered,  and  taking 


168  THE   INFIDEL. 

the  prisoner's  arm,  in  tlic  most  familiar  and  fricndl}' 
manner,  he  stepped  forthwith  into  the  garden.  The 
Mexican's  flesli  crept,  when  it  came  in  contact  with 
thatof  the  Sjianiard;  but  this,  the  Spaniard  doubted 
not,  was  the  tribute  of  awe  to  his  greatness.  His 
voice  became  yet  Inlander,  as,  walking  onwards 
towards  the  lake,  he  poured  into  Guatimozin's 
ear  his  wishes  and  instructions. 

As  they  passed  by  the  little  pool  and  its  dark 
enclosure  of  schinus-trees,  the  inlidel  looked  to- 
wards it  anxiously  and  lingeringly,  as  if  hoping  to 
behold  once  more  the  pale  and  beautiful  coun- 
tenance which  had  shone  upon  it. — It  lay  in  deep 
silence  and  solitude. 

A  few  moments  after,  the  Mexican  had  passed 
tln'ough  the  broken  wall,  and  by  the  centries  who 
guarded  it,  receiving  the  last  instructions  of  the 
invader.  The  next  instant  he  was  alone,  stalking 
towards  a  little  green  point,  where  a  fringe  of  reeds 
and  water-lilies  shook  in  the  diminutive  surges.  He 
cast  his  eye  backward  to  the  two  cavaliers,  and 
beheld  them  pass  into  the  garden.  Then,  taking 
the  chain  of  beads  from  his  neck,  and  rending  it 
with  foot  and  hand,  he  cast  the  broken  jewels  into 
the  lake,  A  moment  after,  his  light  skiff  shot  from 
its  concealment,  and  the  sound  of  his  paddle  startled 
the  droning  wild-fowl  from  their  slumbers. 


THE  INFIDEL.  169 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


When  Ovid  describes  the  memorable  encounter 
between  Perseus  and  the  geat  sea-monster  of  Ethi- 
opia, he  is  at  the  pains  to  narrate  with  what  fury 
the  creature  snapped  at  the  shadow  of  the  flying 
hero, — a  circumstance  of  trivial  importance  in  itself, 
though  both  striking  and  characteristic;  nay,  he 
even  relates  how  the  warrior,  at  the  first  sight  of 
the  fair  Andromeda,  chained  to  the  rock,  and  wait- 
ing to  be  devoured,  was  so  moved  with  admiration 
that  he  forgot,  for  an  instant,  to  flap  his  wings, — 
another  detail  of  more  fitness  than  moment.  Thus 
stooping  to  the  consideration  of  trifles,  the  poet 
does  not  scruple  entirely  to  pass  by  matters  of  the 
most  palpable  consequence.  He  disdains,  for 
example,  to  tell  us  even  whether  the  monster  died 
or  not  in  the  encounter,  leaving  that  to  be  inferred ; 
and,  in  like  manner,  he  scorns  even  to  answer  the 
question  that  might  have  been  anticipated,  namely, 
ivhy  Perseus,  like  a  sensible  soldier,  did  not  whip 
out  his  gorgon's  head,  instead  of  his  'crooked 
sword,'  and,  by  turning  the  beast  into  stone,  save 
himself  the  trouble  of  despatching  him  with  his 
steel. 

The  writer  of  historical  works,  like  the  present, 
must  claim  the  privilege  of  the  poet,  and  be  allowed, 
while  expatiating  on  events  of  interest  so  inferior 
that  they  have  been  almost  rejected  by  his  prede- 
cessors, to  leave  many  others  of  manifest  import- 
ance to  be  supplied,  not  indeed  by  the  imagination, 
but  by  the  learning  of  the  reader.     Our  only  desire 

VOL.  I.  15 


170  THE  INFIDEL. 

is  to  follow  the  adventures  of  two  individuals,  so 
obscure  and  so  unfortunate,  that  the  worthy  and 
somewhat  over-conscientious  Bernal  Diaz  del 
Castillo  has  despatched  the  whole  history  of  the 
first  in  the  few  vague  frafrnients  which  we  have 
prefixed  tt)  the  story  ;  while  he  has  scrupulously 
abstained  from  saying  a  single  word  of  the  second. 
If  the  reader  will  turn  to  the  pages  of  this  con- 
scientious historian,  of  De  Solis,  or  of  Clavigero,  he 
will  be  made  acquainted  with  the  stirring  exploits 
of  the  eight  or  nine  weeks  that  followed  after  the 
arrest  of  Juan  Lerma.  In  this  time,  the  Captain- 
General,  at  the  head  of  all  the  Spaniards,  save  those 
who  were  left  in  garrison  at  Tczcuco,  and  the  few 
sailors  and  shipwrights  who  remained  hi  the  dock- 
yards, to  preside  over  Indian  artificers,  compelled 
to  work  at  the  brigantines — in  this  time,  we  say, 
and  at  the  head  of  this  force,  assisted  by  many  thou- 
sand TIascalans,  Cortes  commenced  and  completed 
the  circuit  of  the  whole  valley,  storming  and  burn- 
ing cities  and  towns  without  number,  resisted 
valiantly  in  all  that  were  not  disaffected,  and  some- 
times, as  at  the  city  of  Tacuba,  repulsed  with  great 
loss  and  no  little  dishonour.  The  whole  campaign 
abounds  with  singular  and  exciting  incidents,  of 
which,  however,  it  does  not  suit  our  purpose  to 
mention  any  but  one,  and  that  almost  in  a  word. 
At  the  city  of  Xochimilco,  or  the  Garden  of  Flowers, 
(foi-  this  is  the  signification  of  the  word,)  where  the 
resistance  was  sanguinary  and  noble,  though,  in 
the  end,  ineffectual,  Cortes  was  wounded,  surround- 
ed, struck  down  from  his  horse,  whicli  was  killed, 
and  he  himself,  for  a  moment,  a  prisoner  ;  and  he 
owed  his  life  and  liberty  only  to  the  extraordinary 
valour  of  Caspar  Olea  of  the  Red  Beard,  who,  with 
the  help  of  a  few  resolute  TIascalans,  succeeded  in 
bringing  him  off".  The  aid  thus  rendered  by  Olea 
was  the  more  remarkable,  since,  from  the  moment 
of  Juan's  arrest,  he  had  become  sullen,  morose,  and 


THE  INFIDEL.  171 

was  sometimes  even  charged  to  be  mutinous.  In  this 
last  imputation,  however,  as  far  as  it  implied  any 
treasonable  thoughts  or  practices,  the  rude  Gaspar 
was  wronged.  His  dissatisfaction  was  caused 
solely  by  the  fall  and  anticipated  fate  of  his  young 
captain.  The  heinousness  of  Juan's  crime — the 
drawing  his  sword  upon  an  officer  in  the  execution 
of  his  duty,  as  Guzman  had  been,  and,  worse  yet, 
the  aiming  of  that  at  the  breast  of  the  General — 
had  left  it,  apparently,  impossible  to  be  forgiven.  It 
was  universally  expected  that  Juan  would  expiate 
the  crime  with  his  life;  and  the  only  wonder  was, 
that  he  had  not  been  immediately  tried,  condemned,  . 
and  executed.  His  destiny  was  therefore  antici- 
pated with  more  curiosity  than  doubt,  and  appa- 
rently with  less  pity  than  either.  Gaspar  did  not 
attempt  to  deny  Juan's  guilt;  but  when  he  remem- 
bered the  sufferings  and  perils  they  had  shared  to- 
gether, his  heart  burned  with  fury,  to  think  how 
soon  the  brave  and  well-beloved  youth  should  die 
the  death  of  a  caitiff.  His  dissatisfaction  expended 
itself  in  anger  towards  the  Captain-General ;  and 
hence  the  surprise  of  his  comrades  at  his  act  of 
daring  and  generosity.  But  Gaspar  had  his  own 
ends  in  view,  when  he  saved  the  life  of  Cortes. 

It  was  now  many  weeks  since  his  arrest,  and 
Juan  yet  lay  in  imprisonment,  ignorant  not  so  much 
of  his  fate,  as  of  the  causes  which  delayed  it.  On 
the  fourth  day  of  his  captivity,  he  was  apprized,  by 
the  sound  of  trumpets  and  artillery,  the  cries  of  men, 
and  the  neighing  of  horses,  and,  in  general,  by  the 
prodigious  bustle  which  accompanies  the  setting- 
out  of  an  army  from  a  populous  city,  that  some  en- 
terprise was  meditated  and  begun ;  but  of  its  cha- 
racter he  was  kept  wholly  ignorant.  The  custody 
of  his  person  seemed  to  be  committed  to  Villafana 
and  the  hunchback  Najara,  conjointly ;  but  it  was 
observable,  that,  although  Najara  frequently  entered 


172  THE   INFIDEL. 

liis  den  alono,  Villafana  never  made  liis  appearance 
without  being  aecompanied  l)y  the  Corcol^ado. 

From  Najara  he  trained  not  a  word  of  intelligence, 
the  Imnchback  ever  replying  to  his  questions  with 
scowls,  or  with  pithy  sarcasms  in  allusion  to  the 
crimes  of  treason  and  mutiny.  From  Villafana, 
attended,  and,  as  it  seemed  to  Juan,  watched,  by 
the  jealous  Najara,  he  obtained  nothing  but  un- 
meaning nods  of  the  head,  and  sometimes  looks, 
too  significant  to  be  doubted,  and  yet  too  oraculous 
to  be  understood. 

After  the  first  fortnight,  Villafana  failed  to  visit 
him  altogether,  and  he  saw  not  the  face  of  a  human 
being,  except  once  each  morning,  when  Najara  was 
accustomed  to  make  his  appearance,  followed  by 
an  Indian  slave,  bearing  food  and  a  jar  of  water. 
With  this  latter  being,  a  decrepit  old  man,  on 
whose  naked  shoulder  was  imprinted  the  horrible 
letter  G,  (for  guerra,  indicating  that  he  was  a  pri- 
soner of  war, — in  other  words,  a  branded  bondman,) 
he  endeavoured  to  speak,  using  all  the  native  dia- 
lects with  which  he  was  acquainted ;  but,  though 
Najara  made  no  ofl^er  to  ]-)revent  such  conversation, 
the  barbarian  replied  only  by  touching  his  ear  and 
then  his  breast,  signifying  thereby  that,  though  he 
heard  the  words,  he  did  not  understand  them. 
Though  Najara  permitted  these  little  attempts  at 
speech,  with  contemptuous  indifference,  Juan  per- 
ceived that  he  ever  kept  his  eyes  fastened  upon  the 
Indian,  as  if  to  prevent  any  effort  at  communica- 
tion of  another  sort.  Thus,  if  any  benevolent  fiiend 
had  endeavoured  to  convey  a  message  by  letter  or 
otherwise,  it  was  apparent  that  Najara  took  the  best 
steps  to  insure  its  miscarriage. 

Foiled  thus  in  every  attempt  to  exchange  thoughts 
with  a  fellow-being,  and  reduced  to  commune  only 
with  his  own,  the  unhaj^p}''  prisoner  ceased,  at  last, 
to  make  any  effort;  and,  )aelding  gradually  to  a 
despair  that  was  not  the  less  consuming  for  being 


THE  INFIDEL.  173 

entirely  without  complaint,  he  began,  in  the  end,  to 
be  indifferent  even  to  the  coming  and  presence  of 
his  jailer,  neither  rising  to  meet  him,  nor  even  lift- 
ing his  eyes  from  the  floor,  on  which  they  were 
fixed  with  a  lethargic  dejection. 

He  became  also  indifferent  to  his  food ;  and 
once,  when  Najara  entered,  he  perceived  that  the  wa- 
ter-jar, the  dish  of  tortillas^  or  maize-cakes,  the  sa- 
voury wild-fowl,  and  the  fragrant  c/wcolatl,  (for  in 
regard  to  food,  he  was  liberally  supplied,)  stood 
upon  the  little  table,  where  they  had  been  placed 
the  day  before,  untasted  and  even  untouched.  He 
cast  his  eyes  upon  the  youth,  and,  for  the  first  time, 
began  to  feel  a  sentiment  of  pity  for  his  condition. 
Indeed,  the  noble  figure  of  the  young  man  was  be- 
ginning to  waste  away;  his  cheeks  were  hollow,  his 
neglected  beard  was  springing  uncouthly  over  his 
lips,  and  his  sunken  eyes  drooped  upon  the  earth, 
as  if  never  more  to  gleam  with  the  light  of  hope 
and  pleasure.  The  hunchback  hesitated  for  a  mo- 
ment, and  then  growled  out  a  few  words, — the  first 
he  had  uttered  for  a  week.  But  these,  though  com- 
miseration prompted  them,  he  succeeded  in  making 
expressive  only  of  scorn  or  anger. 

"  Hark  you,  seiior  Juan  Lerma,"  he  said,  "  do 
you  mean  to  starve  ]" 

At  the  sound  of  his  voice,  so  unusual  and  so  unex- 
pected, the  young  man  raised  his  eyes,  but  with  a 
vague,  wo-begone  look,  and  answered  nothing. 

"  I  say,  senor,"  continued  Najara,  somewhat  more 
blandly,  "  is  it  your  will  to  die  by  starvation  rather 
than  in  any  other  way  ]" 

"  Ah,  Najara  !  is  it  thou  ?"  said  Juan,  rising  feebly, 
or  indolently,  to  his  feet.  "Heaven  give  you  a 
good-morrow." 

"  Pshaw !"  returned  the  jailer,  gruffly  ;  "  pray  me 
no  such  prayers :  keep  them  for  yourself  I  ask 
you,  if  it  be  your  purpose  to  starve  yourself  to 
death,  out  of  a  mere  unsoldierly  fear  of  hanging  V 

15* 


174  THE  INFIDEL. 

"  Thou  hast  not  said  so  mucli  to  nie,  I  know  not 
when,"  rcjilied  the  youth,  not  with  any  intention  of 
shuiflincf  off  the  question,  but  speakinf;  of  what  was 
uppermost  in  iiis  mind.  His  voice  was  very  mild, 
and  Najara,  by  no  means  without  his  weaker 
points,  felt  it  as  a  reproach. 

"  I  care  not,"  he  rci)lied,  "  if  I  answer  you  any  two 
or  three  questions,  that  may  be  nearest  to  your  lieart. 
But  first  0VC  me  to  know,  wherefore  you  have 
eaten  nothinfj  ]  Are  you  sick '?" 

"  Surely  I  am,  at  heart ;  Init,  bodily,  I  am  M-ell." 

"  And  you  are  not  resolute  to  die  of  hunger,  be- 
fore the  judgment-day  ] — Pho,  if  you  have  that  spi- 
rit, ]ierhaiis  it  were  l^etter.  But  it  is  a  death  of 
great  torment. — Yet,  why  should  one  be  afraid  of 
the  shame  1  'Tis  nothing,  when  we  are  dead." 

"Is  this  thy  fear  then  !"  said  Juan,  patiently.  "  It 
is  not  permitted  us  to  commit  suicide  in  any  form. 
I  will  eat,  to  satisfy  thee ;  but  food  is  bitter  in  pri- 
son." 

"  What  a  pity,"  muttered  Najara,  as  Juan  ate  a 
morsel  of  food,  "that  heaven  should  give  thee  such 
a  goodly  and  godlike  body,  and  such  a  brave  soul, 
(for,  o'  my  life,  I  believe  thou  art  entirely  without 
fear,)  and  yet  make  thee  a  madman  aiid  traitor !" 

"  A  traitor !"  said  Juan,  without  taking  any  of- 
fence, for,  indeed,  he  seemed  to  have  been  robbed 
of  all  the  fire  of  his  spirit.  "  It  is  not  possible  any- 
body can  believe  me  a  traitor." 

"  Pho !  did  I  not,  with  mine  own  eyes,  see  thee 
lunge  at  Cortes  ?  It  is  base  of  thee  to  deny  it." 

"  I  do  not  deny  it,"  said  Juan  ;  adding,  vehe- 
mently, "  but  I  call  heaven  to  witness,  I  saw  not  his 
face,  and  knew  him  not.  He  may  persecute  me  to 
death,  as  I  believe  he  is  doing :  Yet  could  I  do  him 
no  wrong ;  no,  I  think,  I  could  not. — But  it  is  bitter, 
to  feel  we  are  trampled  on !" 

"  Well,  senor,  it  is  better  you  should  be  in  a  pas- 
sion than  a  trance.     But    be  not  utterly  without 


THE  INFIDEL,  175 

hope.  If  you  can  truly  make  it  appear  you  knew 
not  the  general,  it  is  thought  by  one  or  two,  you 
may  be  pardoned.  I  have  talked  with  Guzman; 
and  I  think  he  may  be  brought  to  forgive  and  even 
intercede  for  you." 

"  I  will  neither  receive  his  forgiveness  nor  his  in- 
tercession," said  Juan,  frowning.  "  And  I  wonder 
you  mention  to  me  his  detested  name." 

"  Oh,  seiior !"  said  Najara,  sharply,  "  you  may 
choose  your  own  friends,  and  hunt  them  again 
among  heathen  Indians. — That  you  should  sell  your 
life  for  this  dog  of  a  noble ! — B'are  you  well,  senor, 
fare  you  well." 

"  Stay,  Najara,"  said  Juan,  following  him  towards 
the  door :  "  you  said  you  would  answer  me  such 
questions  as  were  nearest  my  heart.  Give  not  over 
the  kindly  thought.  There  are  many  things,  which  if 
I  knew,  my  lot  would  not  be  so  hard,  my  dungeon 
not  so  killing  to  my  spirit.  The  army  is  gone — is 
Mexico  invested  ]" 

"  Not  so,"  replied  the  hunchback ;  "  it  has  a 
month  or  two's  grace  yet. — The  troops  have 
mai'ched  against  the  shore-towns. — But  for  this 
mad  fit,  thou  mightst  have  been  with  them,  or  mak- 
ing thyself  famous  at  T och tepee  !" 

Juan  sighed  heavily. 

"  And  the  Indian,  of  whom  you  spoke, — the 
young  noble, — Olin  the  orator,"  he  demanded,  at 
first,  not  without  hesitation. 

"  Oh,  the  cur,"  replied  Najara ;  "  I  think  Cortes 
was  even  as  mad  as  thyself,  touching  the  knave. 
But  wit  is  like  a  river,  sometimes  too  full,  washing 
away  its  own  banks — it  may  be  said  to  drown  it- 
self— He  made  the  dog  his  ambassador,  swore  him 
to  return  faithfully  from  Guatimozin,  and  waited 
three  days  for  him  in  vain.  Such  rogues  are  like 
arrows, — good  weapons,  when  you  have  the  cast 
of  them,  but  not  to  be  expected  in  hand  again,  un- 
less shot  back  by  a  foeman," 


170  THE  INFIDEL. 

It  was  fortunate,  perhaps,  that  Najara  liad  relax- 
ed so  far  from  his  austerity  as  to  resume  the  vein  of 
metaphor  common  to  his  softer  moments.  Had  he 
been  as  ol)servant  as  usual,  he  nmst  have  been 
struck  with  suspicion  at  the  sudden  gleam  of  satis- 
faction, with  which  Juan  hoard  the  good  fortune  of 
the  Mexican.     But  he  marked  it  not. 

"  Tell  me  now,"  said  Juan,  "  how  thou  comest  to 
be  my  jailer ;  and  why  it  is  that  Villafana  seems  to 
have  given  up  his  trust  to  thee  V 

At  this  question,  Najara's  good-humour  imme- 
diately vanished,  and  he  replied,  sourly, 

"  Oh,  content  you,  you  shall  be  in  good  keei> 
ing." 

"I  doubt  it  not,"  said  Juan,  calmly.  "  But  Villafana 
is,  or  methinks  he  is,  more  friendly  to  me  than 
you.  I  did  but  desire  to  know  what  changes  had 
taken  place  in  the  government  of  the  city,  from  the 
watchman  up  to  the  commandant,  since  my  impri- 
sonment." 

"  Ay,  indeed  !"  replied  Najara,  grimly :  "  such 
changes,  that  hadst  thou  fifty  friends  waiting  to 
aid  thee,  thou  shouldst  be  caught,  before  getting 
twenty  steps  from  the  door.  Know  then,  that  I 
am  made  Alguazil,  as  well  as  Villafana ;  and  what 
is  more,  I  am  captain  of  the  prison.  The  Alcalde 
is  Antonio  de  Quinones,  master  of  the  armory; 
and  the  Corregidor  of  the  city  is  thy  good  friend 
Guzman, — an  honour  thou  gavest  him,  by  hacking 
his  face  so  freely,  and  so  leaving  him  in  the  hos- 
pital." 

"  You  speak  to  me  in  sarcasm,"  said  Juan, 
mildly :  "  I  have  not  deserved  it.  And  methinks 
you  should  be  more  generous  of  temper,  than  to 
oppress  with  words  of  insult,  a  fallen  and  helpless 
man. — Well,  heed  it  not — I  forgive"you.  I  have  but 
one  more  question  to  ask  you. — The  lady, — this 
lady,  La  Monjonaza — " 

"Ay!"  cried  Najara,  with  singular  bitterness, 


THE  INFIDEL.  177 

"  I  have  heard  of  that  too.  You  were  seen  talking 
with  lier  in  the  garden.  You  will  play  chamberer 
with  Cortes !  ay,  and  rival  too !  Pho,  canst  thou 
not  be  at  peace  1  Meddle  with  the"  general's  fancy. 
Why  that  were  enough  to  hang  thee.  I  had  some 
soft  thoughts  of  thee ;  but  everything  shows  thou 
art  unworthy.  Farewell ;  think  of  these  things  no 
more ;  but  repent  and  make  your  peace  with  hea- 
ven." 

So  saying,  the  hunchback  flung  out  of  the  room, 
and  securing  the  thick  door  of  plank,  Juan  was 
again  left  to  his  meditations. 


178  THE  INFIDEL, 


CHAPTER  XV. 


Then  followed  another  period  of  silence  and  de- 
jection, in  which  the  prisoner  wasted  away  as 
much  in  body  as  in  spirit,  becoming  so  listlessly 
indifferent  to  everything,  that  he  no  longer  betray- 
ed any  desire  to  draw  Najara  into  conversation, 
nor  even  to  meet  the  advances  which  his  jailer  now 
often  made.  The  thought  of  escaping  from  con- 
finement, perhaps,  never  entered  his  mind ;  for, 
had  he  been  even  less  resigned  to  his  fate,  the  strict 
watch  kept  over  him,  and  the  condition  of  his  pri- 
son, added  to  his  apparent  friendlessness,  must 
have  been  enough  to  banish  all  such  thoughts.  His 
chamber  was  neither  dark  nor  damp,  but  made 
strong  by  its  bulky  door,  barred  on  the  outside, 
and  by  windows,  high  above  the  floor,  so  very 
narrow  that  no  human  being  could  hope  to  pass 
through  them. 

Narrow  as  they  were,  however,  it  was  the 
jailer's  custom  to  examine  them  very  closely  each 
morning ;  a  degree  of  vigilance  that  Juan  had,  in 
the  earlier  days  of  captivity,  remarked  with  some 
surprise.  He  became  acquainted  with  Najara's 
object  at  last.  One  morning,  he  was  roused  out 
of  his  stupefaction  by  a  liarsii  exclamation  from 
his  jailer,  and  looking  up,  he  beheld  him  take  from 
the  floor,  immediately  under  one  of  the  loopholes, 
what  seemed  a  slip  of  paper,  tied  to  a  little  stick, 
which  appeared,  some  time  during  the  night,  to  have 
been  thus  thrust  into  the  prison.  What  were  its 
contents  he  never  could  divine ;  for  Najara  had  no 
sooner  cast  his  eyes  over  it,  than  mingling  a  laugh 


THE  INFIDEL.  179 

of  satisfaction  at  its  miscarriage  with  some  natural 
compassion  for  the  profound  wretchedness  which 
had  sealed  the  ears  and  eyes  of  the  prisoner,  he 
immediately  departed  with  the  prize. 

From  this  time,  Juan  became  more  vigilant  and 
wary ;  but  the  following  night,  he  was  admonished, 
by  the  clank  of  armour  and  the  occasional  sound 
of  voices  without,  that  sentinels  were  now  stationed 
under  the  windows,  thus  precluding  all  hope  of 
friendly  communication  from  that  quarter. 

Before  he  had  again  entirely  relapsed  into  his 
listless  gloom,  he  began  to  have  a  vague  con- 
sciousness that  the  Indian  slave,  who  accompanied 
Najara,  was  becoming  more  officious  than  of  old, 
in  setting  his  meals  before  him,  and  particularly  in 
placing  the  jar  of  water  at  his  side,  instead  of  de- 
positing it  on  his  table,  as  he  had  done  before.  His 
suspicion  was  confirmed,  when,  one  morning,  as 
Najara  was  making  his  wonted  survey  of  the  win- 
dows, the  slave  gave  him  a  quick,  impatient  look, 
and  shaking  the  jar  as  he  set  it  down,  made  him 
sensible,  by  a  rattling  sound  within  it,  that  there 
was  something  besides  the  innocent  element  con- 
cealed at  the  bottom.  As  soon  as  Najara  had  de- 
parted, he  made  an  examination  of  the  mystery, 
and  drew  forth,  with  some  astonishment,  a  plate  of 
transparent  obsidian,  on  which  had  been  scratched 
by  some  hard  instrument  or  precious  stone,  a  few 
words  which  he  was  soon  able  to  decypher.  "  If 
thou  wilt  leave  Mexico,  and  live,  take  the  stone 
from  the  pitcher." 

He  strode  about  the  apartment  for  a  moment  in 
disorder ;  then,  crushing  the  glassy  temptation  under 
his  heel,  and  returning  the  fragments  to  the  jar,  he 
sat  down  again  to  brood  over  his  despair. — The 
next  morning  the  pitcher  contained  nothing  but 
water. 

Thus,  then,  the  time  passed  away,  in  the  ordi- 
nary listlessness   of   confinement, — the  dull   and 


180  THE  INFIDEL. 

sleepy  torture  of  solitude ;  until  Najara,  waxing 
more  compassionate  as  his  prisoner  grew  more 
obviously  indifferent  to  light,  to  food,  and  to  speech, 
bethought  him  of  a  mode  of  indulgence  from  which 
no  danger  could  be  apprehended,  and  accordingly 
introduced  the  dog  Befo  into  the  apartment. 

The  loud  yells  of  joy  with  which  Befo  beheld  his 
young  master,  recalled  Juan  from  his  lethargy;  and 
Najara  was  touched  still  furtlier  with  compunction 
at  the  sight  of  the  animal's  transports. 

"He  has  been  whining  every  day  at  the  prison 
gate,"  he  muttered  ;  "  and  doubtless  he  would  liave 
whined  full  as  much,  though  he  were  to  be  let  in 
only  to  be  beaten.  Such  a  fond  fool  is  this  young 
Juan  himself:  he  returns  to  his  master,  though  ho 
knows  the  scourge  is  ready.  It  were  better  he 
had  taken  my  advice,  and  passed  to  the  sea  by 
Otumba :  He  should  have  known  Cortes  would 
never  forgive  hmi." 

The  presence  of  this  faithful  animal,  if  it  did  not 
recall  Juan's  spirits,  at  least  preserved  him  from 
sinking  further  into  stupeftiction;  and  nothing  gave 
him  more  evident  delight,  than  when,  each  morning, 
having  prevailed  upon  Najara  to  lead  his  dumb 
companion  into  the  air  for  exercise,  he  could  liear 
Befo,  in  the  joy  of  a  liberty  which  he  did  not  share, 
dashing  frantically  through  the  garden,  now 
coursing  by  the  water-side,  now  prancing  by  the 
palace,  and,  all  the  time,  yelping  and  barking  with 
the  most  clamorous  delight.  From  these  daily 
sorties  the  dog  was  used  to  return,  with  fresh 
spirits  and  increased  attachment,  to  share,  for  the 
remainder  of  the  day,  the  confinement  of  his  mas- 
ter, upon  whom,  at  his  entrance,  he  jumped  and 
fawned  almost  as  boisterously  as  when  enjoying 
his  sports  in  the  garden. 

One  day,  howev^er,  he  returned  with  a  much 
graver  aspect  than  usual,  and  stalking  up  to  where 
Juan  sat,  he  stood,  wagging  his  tail,  and  gazing  up 


THE  INFIDEL.  157 

the  frame  of  the  Captain-General.  "  And  you,  ye 
idle  fellows,"  he  continued,  addressing  the  soldiers, 
"  get  you  to  your  quarters,  to  your  watch,  or  to 
your  beds.  Begone. — Why  loiter  ye,  Villafanal 
Conduct  away  the  prisoner." 

Juan  raised  his  eyes  once  more  to  the  general, 
and  seemed  as  if  he  would  hav^e  spoken ;  but,  con- 
fused and  bewildered  by  the  extraordinary  termi- 
nation of  the  drama  of  the  day,  chilled  by  frowns, 
oppressed  by  a  consciousness  of  having  provoked 
his  fate,  his  head  sunk  in  a  deep  dejection  on  his 
breast,  and  he  suffered  himself  to  be  led  silently 
away. 

A  gleam  of  light,  such  as  flares  up  at  night  from 
a  decaying  brand,  just  lost  in  ashes,  sprang  up  in 
the  leader's  eyes,  as  they  followed  the  steps  of  the 
unhappy  youth,  until,  passing  from  that  door,  which 
he  had  so  vainly  sought  to  gain  with  the  Mexican,  he 
vanished  from  siglit.  Its  lustre  was  hidden  from 
all  but  the  captive,  who,  maintaining  throughout 
the  whole  scene,  the  self-possession,  characteristic  of 
all  the  American  race,  from  tlie  pygmies  of  the 
Frozen  Sea  to  the  giants  of  Patagonia,  did  not  lose 
the  opportunity  thus  afforded,  of  diving  into  the 
thoughts  of  the  Invader. 

As  soon  as  Juan  Lerma  had  departed,  with  the 
mass  of  the  soldiers,  Cortes  turned  to  the  Mexican, 
and  with  a  mild  countenance,  and  a  gentle  voice, 
which  were  designed  to  convey  the  proper  inter- 
pretation of  his  Castilian  speech,  said, 

"  Let  my  young  friend,  the  Tlatoani,  be  at 
peace,  and  fear  not ;  no  harm  is  designed  him." 

Then,  making  a  signal  to  those  who  remained, 
to  lead  the  captive  after  him,  he  passed  into  the 
garden,  and  thence,  by  a  private  entrance,  into  the 
hall  of  audience. 

VOL.  I.  14 


158  THE  INFIPEL. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


It  has  been  already  mentioned,  that  the  person 
of  Guatimozin  was  familiar  to  few,  or  none,  of  the 
Spaniards.  Intensely  and  consistently  hostile  to 
the  invaders,  from  the  first  moment  of  their  appear- 
ance in  the  Valley,  he  had  cv^er  kept  aloof  from 
them,  and  was  one  of  the  few  princes  of  ]Mexic<\ 
whom  neither  force  nor  stratagem  could  reduce  to 
thraldom.  His  youth,  indeed, — his  want  of  authority, 
(for  though  of  the  loftiest  birth  and  the  highest  mili- 
tary fame,  he  enjoyed,  at  first,  no  independent  com- 
mand or  government,)  and,  hence,  his  apparent 
insignificance, — had  made  the  possession  of  his  per- 
son of  no  great  consequence  ;  and  it  was  not  until 
he  was  seen  leading  the  incensed  citizens  up  against 
the  guns  of  the  garrison,  and  directing  the  assault 
W'hich  terminated  in  the  life  of  Montezuma,  that  he 
began  to  be  considered  an  enemy  worthy  to  be 
feared.  Even  then,  however,  he  was  but  one 
among  the  warlike  followers  of  Cuitlahuatzin, — the 
successor  of  Montezuma, — and  on  the  famous  bat- 
tle-field of  Otumba,  he  fought  only  as  a  second  in 
command.  But  from  that  time  until  tlie  present 
moment,  his  name  was  constantly  before  the  Span- 
iards, first  as  the  king  of  Iztapalapan,  then  as  a 
leader  among  those  royal  warriors,  sent  forth  by 
Cuitlahuatzin,  now  to  annoy  the  Spaniards,  even 
among  their  fortresses  on  the  borders  of  Tlascala, 
and  now  to  chastise  those  rebellious  tribes 
which  were  daily  acknowledging  allegiance  to  the 
Spaniard,  and  preparing  to  march  with  him  against 
Tenochtitlan. 


THE  INFIDEL.  159 

The  death  of  Cuitlahuatzin  had  suddenly  ex- 
posed him  to  view  as  the  probable  successor  to  the 
imperial  dignity  ;  and  the  act  of  the  royal  electors, 
(the  kings  of  Mexico  were  chosen  by  the  crowned 
vassals  of  the  empire,)  in  bestowing  thamantle  and 
sceptre,  had  left  nothing  to  be  done  to  confirm  his 
authority,  save  a  solemn  inauguration  on  the  day  of 
an  august  religious  and  national  festival. 

He  had  thus  assumed  the  attitude  which  Monte- 
zuma had  once  preserved  in  the  eyes  of  the  Con- 
quistador; and  it  was  as  much  the  policy  of  Cortes 
to  attempt  the  acts  of  delusion  with  him,  as  it  had 
been  with  his  predecessor.  The  craftier  and 
liaughtier  Guatimozin  had,  however,  rejected  his 
overtures  with  disdain ;  and,  justly  appreciating  the 
character  and  designs  of  his  enemy,  he  prepared  for 
war  as  the  only  alternative  of  slavery.  He  had 
already  concentrated  in  his  city,  and  in  the  neigh- 
bouring towns,  the  whole  martial  force  of  the  tribes 
yet  valiant  and  faithful ;  he  had  laboured,  with  an 
address  that  was  not  always  inefiectual,  to  regain 
the  false  and  rebellious;  and,  rising  above  the 
weakness  of  national  resentments,  he  had  even 
striven  to  unite  his  hereditary  foes  in  a  league  of 
resistance  against  the  stranger,  who,  whether 
frowning  or  smiling,  whether  courting  with  friend- 
ship, or  subduing  with  arms,  was  yet,  and  equally, 
the  enemy  of  all. 

Enough  has  been  said  to  explain  the  purpose  for 
which  he  so  rashly  threw  himself  into  the  power  of 
the  Conqueror.  The  certain  assurance  of  disaffec- 
tion in  the  invader's  camp,  not  only  among  the 
allies,  but  among  the  Spaniards  themselves,  was 
enough  to  fire  liis  heart  with  the  desire  of  employ- 
ing agamst  Don  Hernan  a  weapon  which  his  foe 
had  used  so  fatally  against  him  ;  and,  besides,  the 
opportunity  of  detaching  the  Tlascalans  from  the 
Spanish  interest,  was  too  captivating  to  be  rejected. 
These  were  advantages  to  be  investigated  and  pro- 


160  TIIC  IXFinEL. 

moted  by  himself,  rnthor  than  by  afrents;  and,  con- 
fiding in  his  ononiies'  iirnoranco  of  his  person,  in 
his  cunning,  and  in  the  interested  fidelity  of  trai- 
tors, who  had  already  grasped  at  bribes,  and  were 
eager  to  l)e  better  acquainted  with  his  bounty,  ho 
did  not  scruple  to  direct  his  midnight  skiff  among 
the  reeds  on  the  lakeside,  and,  in  the  guise  of  a 
mere  noble,  trust  himself  alone  in  their  power. 

If  the  reader  desire  to  know  what  could  induce 
any  of  the  followers  of  Cortes  to  treat  thus  perfi- 
diously with  the  infidel  enemy  whose  wealth  was 
promised  as  the  certain  guerdon  of  war,  he  may 
be  answered  almost  in  a  word.  The  dani^ers  of  tlie 
war  were  manifold  and  obvious  to  all,  and  the  hor- 
rors of  the  five  days'  battles  in  the  streets  of  ?»Iexi- 
co,  and  more  than  all,  the  calamities  of  the  midnight 
retreat,  had  given  such  a  foretaste  of  what  might 
be  expected  from  a  prosecution  of  the  campaign, 
that  full  half  the  army  looked  forward  to  it  with 
equal  terror  and  repugnance.  A  majority  of  those 
who  survived  the  Noche  Triste,  were  followers  of 
the  unfortunate  Narvaez,  and  some  of  them  yet 
friendly  to  the  deceived  Velasquez.  They  remain- 
ed with  Cortes  upon  compulsitm,  and  they  hated 
him  not  only  for  their  inabihty  to  return  to  their 
peaceable  farms  among  the  islands,  for  past  calami- 
ties, and  coming  misfortunes,  but  for  the  superior 
favours  showered  so  liberally,  and  indeed  so  natu- 
rally, upon  those  who  had  been  his  original,  and 
were  yet  his  faithful,  adherents.  In  a  word,  they 
regarded  the  reduction  of  the  Mexican  empire  as 
hopeless,  and  tlieir  own  fiite,  if  they  remained,  as 
already  written  in  characters  of  blood.  The  bolder 
scowled  and  complained,  the  feeble  and  the  crafty 
dissembled,  but  evil  thoughts  and  fierce  resolutions 
were  common  to  all.  They  burned  to  be  released 
from  what  was  to  them  intolerable  bondage,  and 
the  means  were  not  to  be  questioned,  even  though 
they  might  involve  connivance  and  collusion  with 


THE  INFIDEL.  161 

the  foe.  But  such  collusion  was  by  no  means 
known,  nor  even  suspected,  by  any  save  the  few 
desperadoes  who  had  risen  to  the  bad  eminence  of 
leaders.  Even  Villafana  was  ignorant  of  the  true 
character  of  his  guest,  and  esteemed  him  to  be 
only  what  he  represented  himself, — Olin,  the  young 
noble,  an  orator,  counsellor,  and  confidential  agent 
of  Guatimozin.  It  was  not  possible  for  the  Cap- 
tain-General to  regard  him  in  any  other  light. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  young  monarch's 
thoughts,  his  secret  misgivings  and  self-reproaches, 
as  he  strode,  closely  environed  by  cavaliers,  into  the 
great  hall,  now  dimly  lighted  by  tapers  of  vegetable 
wax  and  torches  of  fragrant  wood,  they  were  ex- 
posed by  no  agitation  of  countenance  or  hesitation 
of  step ;  and  when  Cortes  ascended  the  platform  to 
his  seat,  and  turned  his  penetrating  eye  upon  him, 
he  preserved  an  air  of  the  most  fearless  tranquillity. 
For  the  space  of  several  moments,  the  general  re- 
garded him  in  silence;  then  commanding  all  to 
leave  the  apartment,  excepting  Sandoval,  Alvarado, 
and  another  cavalier  who  officiated  as  interpreter, 
he  said  to  Alvarado,  with  a  mild  voice,  very 
strangely  contrasted  with  the  rudeness  of  his 
words, 

"  Look  into  the  face  of  this  heathen  dog,  and  tell 
me  if  thou  knowest  him." 

Alvarado  had  been,  as  the  historical  reader  is 
aware,  left  in  Mexico,  the  jailer  of  Montezuma  and 
the  warden  of  the  city,  during  the  absence  of 
Cortes,  when  he  marched  against  Narvaez.  It  was 
supposed,  therefore,  that  Don  Pedro  was  better  ac- 
quainted with  the  persons  of  the  principal  nobles 
than  any  other  cavalier.  He  examined  the  captive 
curiously,  and  at  last  said,  shaking  his  head, 

"  Methinks  his  visage  is  not  unknown ;  and  yet 
I  wot  not  to  whom  it  belongs.  The  knave  is 
but  a  boy.     If  he  be  a  noble,  never  trust  me  but  he 

14* 


162  THE  INFIDEL. 

is  one  of  Guatimoziii's  making,  and  therefore  not 
yet  of  consequence." 

At  tlie  sound  of  his  own  name,  the  only  word 
distinii^iii8hal)le  by  the  prisoner,  Alvarado  observed 
that  his  iDrow  contracted  a  little.  But  this  awoke 
no  suspicion. 

"  Demand  of  liim,"  said  Cortes  to  the  interpreter, 
"his  name,  and  tlio  purpose  of  his  coming  to  Tez- 
cuco  V 

When  this  was  explained  to  the  Mexican,  his 
brow  contracted  still  further,  but  rather  with  in- 
quisitiveness  than  embarrassment: 

"  I  am  Olin-pilli,"  (that  is,  Olin  the  Lord,  or  Lord 
Olin,)  he  replied,  "  the  speaker  of  wise  tilings  to  the 
king,  and  the  mouth  of  nobles." 

He  then  paused,  as  if  to  examine  with  wliat  de- 
gree of  belief  he  was  listened  to ;  and  being  satis- 
fied, from  the  countenance  of  Don  Hernan,  that  he 
was  really  unknown,  he  continued,  Avitli  a  more 
confident  tone, 

"  And  I  come  to  the  Lord  of  the  East,  the  Son  of 
the  God  of  Air,  to  hear  the  words  of  his  children. 
Did  not  the  Teuctli  send  Coy  me  1" 

"  Not  I,"  replied  the  Captain-General,  sternl3^ 
"  Speaker  of  wise  things,  I  look  into  thy  heart,  and 
I  see  thy  falsehood.  Thou  art  a  spy, — a  qitimi- 
chi?i, — sent  by  Guatimozin  the  king,  to  speak  dark 
things  to  the  men  of  Tlascala." 

The  captive,  though  somewhat  disconcerted, 
maintained  a  fearless  countenance : 

"  The  Teuctli  is  the  son  of  the  gods,  and  knows 
everything,"  he  answered. 

"  And  charged  also,"  continued  Cortes,  "  to  whis- 
per in  the  ears  of  fools,  who  send  good  words  to  {h6 
king,  that  the  king  may  enrich  them  with  gold.  Is 
not  this  true.  Sir  Quimichin  ?" 

"Is  not  Malintzin  the  Son  of  Q,uetzalcoatl,  the 
AVhite  God  with  a  beard,  who  proclaimed  from  the 


THE  INFIDEL.  163 

Hill  of  Shouting*  and  from  the  Speaking  Mountain,! 
the  coming  of  his  offspring  !  and  shall  Olin  know 
more  things  than  Malintzin]  Guatimozin  thinks, 
that  the  Spaniard  should  not  slay  his  people." 

"  Wherefore,  then,  sent  he  not  thee  to  me,^"  de- 
manded the  Captain-General.  "  I  will  listen  to  his 
words.  It  was  not  wise  to  send  his  ambassador  to 
the  soldier,  when  the  general  sat  by,  in  his  tent. — 
Hearken  to  me,  friend  Olin,"  he  continued,  with 
gravity :  "  Hadst  thou  brought  his  discourse  to  me, 
thou  hadst  then  been  listened  to  with  honour,  and 
dismissed  in  peace.     Art  thou  a  soldier  1" 

"  Olin  is  a  counsellor,"  replied  the  Mexican, 
proudly ;  "  but  lie  has  bled  in  battle." 

"  And  is  not  Guatimozin  a  warrior?" 

"  He  is  the  king  of  the  House  of  Darts,  and  he 
has  struck  his  foe." 

"  When  the  lurking  Ottorni  is  found  skulking  in 
his  camp ;  when  the  angry  Tlascalan  creeps  up  to 
his  fort ;  what  does  Guatimozin  then  with  the  pri- 
soner 1  what  says  he  to  the  Ottomi  1  what  wills  he 
with  the  Tlascalan  T" 

"  He  binds  them  to  the  stone,  and  they  die  like 
the  dogs  of  the  altar !"  replied  the  barbarian,  with 
a  fierce  utterance. 

"  Thou  hast  spoken  thine  own  doom,"  replied 
Cortes,  sternly ;  "  only  that,  instead  of  perishing 
according  to  thy  damnable  customs,  a  sacrifice  to 
spirits  accurst,  thou  shalt  have  such  death  as  we 
give  to  the  dogs  of  Castile.  Thou  hast  crept  into 
my  camp,  like  the  spying  Ottomi ;  thou  comest  with 
sword  and  shield,  like  the  bravo  of  Tlascala ;  and 
thou  hast  addressed  thyself  to  traitors  and  conspi- 
rators, to  make  them  mine  enemies.  Why  then 
should  I  not  hang  thee  upon  a  tree  1  or  why,"  he 
continued,  with  an  elevated  voice,  descending  from 

•  Tzafzltepecy  a  mountain  near  Tula. 
I  Catciiepet/,  a  volcano. 


164  THE   INFIDEL. 

the  platform,  and,  with  a  sintrle  motion,  unsheath- 
ing his  rapier  and  aiming  it  against  the  captive's 
breast — "  why  should  I  not  kill  thee,  thou  cur  ! 
upon  the  spot  ?" 

"  I  am  a  Mexican !"  replied  the  young  king,  ra- 
ther opposing  his  body  to  the  expected  thrust  than 
seeking  to  avoid  it ;  "I  look  upon  my  death,  and  I 
spit  u])on  thee,  Sjxiniard  !" 

"  Hah  !"  cried  Cortes,  whose  desire  was  to  inti- 
midate, not  to  slay,  and  who  could  not  but  admire 
the  fearless  air  of  defiance,  so  boldly  assumed  by 
the  cajitive,  "  thou  hast  either  a  true  heart,  or  a  pene- 
trating eye. — Fear  not ;  thy  life  is  in  my  hands,  but 
I  design  thee  no  wrong  :  death  were  but  a  just 
punishment  for  thy  villany,  yet  I  mean  not  to  en- 
foice  i.t.  What  wilt  thou  do,  if  I  discharge  thee 
unharmed  ?" 

"  1  will  know,"  said  the  barbarian,  with  a  look  of 
surprise,  as  soon  as  this  was  interpreted,  "  that 
Malintzin  is  not  always  hungry  for  blood;  or  rather, 
I  will  ask  of  my  thoughts,  what  mischief  to  Mexico 
is  meditated  in  the  act  of  mercy." 

"  A  shrewd  knave,  i'faith,  a  shrewd  knave !" 
cried  Cortes,  admiringly  :  "  by  my  conscience,  this 
fellow  hath  somewhat  the  wit  of  a  Christian  politi- 
cian.— Infidel,"  he  continued,  "  hearken  to  what  I 
say.  I  desire  to  speak  the  words  of  peace  with  my 
young  brother  Guatimozin.  Wherefore  will  he  not 
listen  to  me  ?" 

"  Because  his  ears  are  open  to  the  groans  of  his 
children,"  replied  the  Mexican,  promptly.  "  When 
Malintzin  smiles,  the  brand  hisses  on  the  flesh  of 
the  prisoner ;  when  he  talks  of  peace,  the  great 
war-horse  paws  the  breast  of  the  dead.  Let  this 
thing  be  not,  let  his  insurgent  subjects  be  sent  to 
their  villages,  and  Guatimozin  will  listen  to  the 
Teuctli." 

*'  He  has  slain  my  ambassadors,"  said  Cortes. 

"  Shall  the  slave  say  to  his  master,  *  I  am  the 


THE  INFIDEL.  165 

bondman  of  another,'  and  laugh  in  the  king's  face'? 
Let  Malintzin  send  a  Christian  to  Guatimozin.  I 
will  row  him  in  my  skiff,  and  he  shall  return  un- 
harmed." 

"  What  thinkest  thou  of  this  ?  I  will  send  him 
such  an  envoy,  and  thou  shalt  remain  a  hostage  in 
his  place.  What  will  be  said  to  him  by  the  king  of 
Mexico  ]" 

"  This,"  replied  the  captive,  without  a  moment's 
hesitation:  "The  Christian  is  in  Mexico,  and  Olin- 
pilli  in  the  prisons  of  Malintzin  :  let  the  Christian 
therefore  die." 

"  Ay,  by  my  conscience,  he  speaks  well,"  said 
Cortes.  "  But  were  friendship  offered,  and  twenty 
thousand  hostages  left  behind,  I  should  like  to  know 
what  Spaniard  of  us  all  would  perform  the  pilgrim- 
age 1  There  is  but  one. — But  that  is  naught.  By 
heaven  and  St.  John,  we  will  think  of  other 
things !  we  will  think  of  other  things  ! — Is  it  not 
death  by  the  decree  V 

"  Seiior !"  cried  Alvarado  in  surprise.  Cortes 
started. — In  the  moment  of  entranced  thought,  he 
had  stridden  away  from  the  group  to  some  distance, 
and,  he  now  perceived,  they  were  gazing  at  him 
with  wonder. 

"  We  will  entrust  this  thing  to  him,  then,  as  I 
said,"  he  cried,  hurriedly,  "  and  he  shall  return  with 
the  misbeliever's  answer.  We  have  no  other 
choice.     What  think  ye  of  it,  my  masters  1" 

"  Of  lohat  ?'"  said  Alvarado,  bluntly  :  "  You  have 
said  nothing.  By'r  lady,  and  with  reverence  to 
your  excellency,  you  are  dreaming  !" 

"  Pho  !"  cried  the  Captain-General,  "  did  I  not 
speak  it  ]  Our  thoughts  sometimes  sound  in  our 
ears,  like  words.  This  is  the  philosophy  of  the 
marvel :  Hast  thou  never,  when  thine  eyes  were 
shut,  yet  beheld  in  them  the  objects  of  which  thou 
wert  thinking  ]  If  thou  couldst  think  music,  never 
believe  me  but  thou  wouldst  also  hear  it. — This, 
then,  is  the  thought  which  I  forgot  to  utter :  I  will 


166  THE  INFIDEL. 

give  this  dog  liis  freedom,  and,  for  lack  of  a  better, 
make  liim  my  envoy  to  Guatimozin.  If  he  return,  it 
will  be  well  ;  if  not,  we  are  left  where  we  were; 
and  we  can  hang  him  hereafter.'' 

"  Let  us  first  know,"  said  Sandoval,  coolly,  "  by 
what  sort  of  charm  he  prevailed  on  this  mad  young 
man,  Juan  Lerma,  to  i)eril  limb  and  life  for  him, 
and,  what  is  more,  honour  too." 

"  Ay,  by  my  conscience  !"  said  Cortes,  hurriedly ; 
"  this  thing  I  had  forgotten. — He  shall  die  the 
death  !  Connive  with  a  spy  ?  conceal  him  from  the 
pursuers  ?  draw  sword  upon  a  cavalier  ?  strike  at 
an  officer's  life  1  Were  he  mine  own  brother,  he 
should  abide  his  doom.  Who  will  say  I  wrong 
him  now  ? — Hah  !  what  says  the  dog  ]  How  came 
this  thing  to  pass  ]" 

While  Cortes  was  yet  pursuing  the  subject 
nearest  to  his  heart,  half  soliloquizing,  the  question 
was  asked  and  answered ;  and  the  reply,  to  Gua- 
timozin's  great  relief,  was  received  with  unexpect- 
ed belief 

"  He  was  caught  by  the  blood-hound ;  (An  ex- 
cellent dog,  that  Befo !)"  said  Alvarado  ;  "  and  mak- 
ing his  moan  to  Lerma,  (whom  heaven  take  to  its 
rest !  for  I  know  not  how  he  can  be  so  brave,  and 
yet  an  ass,)  the  young  fool  fell  to  his  old  tricks. 
When  did  an  Indian  ever  ask  him  for  pity  in  vain  ? — 
This  is  his  story  ;  it  is  too  natural  to  be  false ;  yet, 
Indians  are  great  liars. — But  you  said  something  of 
making  this  cur  your  envoy  .'" 

"  Ay,"  replied  Cortes  :  "  What  sayst  thou,  Olin, 
speaker  of  wise  things  !  wilt  thou  bear  my  thoughts 
to  thy  master  Guatimozin  V 

"  The  lord  of  Tenochtitlan  shall  hear  them,"  said 
Guatimozin,  his  eyes  gleaming  with  expectation. 

"And  thou  wilt  return  to  me  with  his  answer  1 
Swear  this  upon  the  cross  of  my  sword ;  ay,  and 
swear  it  by  thy  diabolical  gods  also." 

"  Guatimozin  shall  send  back  to  Malintzin  a  no- 


THE  INFIDEL.  167 

ble  Mexican ;  or,  otherwise,  Olin  will  return.  How 
shall  the  Mexican  noble  know  that  the  Teuctli  will 
not  take  his  life  1" 

"  Does  that  deter  you  1"  said  Cortes :  "  I  swear 
by  the  cross  which  I  worship,  that,  come  thou  or 
another,  or  come  Guatimozin  himself,  provided  he 
come  to  me  in  peace,  and  with  the  king's  message, 
he  shall  depart  in  safety,  with  good- will  and  with 
favours  such  as  this." 

As  he  spoke,  he  took  from  his  own  neck,  and 
flung  round  the  Mexican's,  a  chain  of  beads,  which 
were  neither  of  diamond,  sapphire,  nor  ruby,  but 
sufficiently  resembling  each  and  all,  to  gratify  the 
vanity  of  a  barbarian.  The  young  king  smiled — 
but  it  was  at  the  thought  of  freedom. 

"  Thou  shalt  have  more  such,  and  richer,"  said 
Cortes,  misconceiving  his  joy.  "  Why  is  not  Olin 
the  friend  of  Malintzin  ]" 

"  Malintzin  is  a  great  prince,"  said  the  prisoner, 
softly. 

"  Is  Olin  content  to  be  the  slave  of  Guatimozin  7" 
pursued  the  Captain-General,  insidiously.  "  Will 
Olin  do  Malintzin's  bidding,  and  be  the  king  of 
Chalco  ]" 

"  Shall  Olin  slay  Guatimozin  ?"  cried  the  prisoner, 
with  a  gleam  of  subtle  intelligence,  and  so  abruptly, 
that  Cortes  was  startled. 

"  Hah  !  by  my  conscience  !"  he  cried,  "  I  under- 
stand thee:  thou  art  even  more  knave  than  I 
thought  thee. — Kill  the  king  indeed!  By  no  means ; 
harm  not  a  hair  of  his  head :  we  will  have  no  as- 
sassination. It  is  better  this  young  boy  should  be 
king  than  another. — This  is  a  very  proper  knave. 
Gentlemen,  by  your  leave,  I  will  bid  you  good- 
night :  I  will  see  the  dog  to  the  water-side.  Antonio, 
do  thou  walk  with  us,  and  explain  between  us. — 
A  very  excellent  shrewd  villain." 

So  saying,  the  Captain-General  turned  to  the 
door  by  which  he  had  lately  entered,  and  taking 


168  THE  INFIDEL. 

the  prisoner's  arm,  in  tlie  most  familiar  and  friondly 
manner,  lie  stepped  forth  with  into  the  garden.  The 
Mexican's  flesh  crept,  when  it  came  in  contact  with 
thatof  the  Spaniard;  but  this,  the  S])aniard  doubted 
not,  was  the  tribute  of  nwe  to  his  irreatness.  His 
voice  became  yet  blander,  as,  walking  onwards 
towards  the  lake,  he  poured  into  Guatimozin's 
ear  his  wishes  and  instructions. 

As  they  passed  by  the  little  pool  and  its  dark 
enclosure  of  schinus-trees,  the  infidel  looked  to- 
wards it  anxiously  and  lingeringly,  as  if  hoping  to 
behold  once  more  the  pale  and  beautiful  coun- 
tenance which  had  shone  upon  it. — It  lay  in  deep 
silence  and  solitude. 

A  few  moments  after,  the  Mexican  had  passed 
through  the  broken  wall,  and  by  the  centries  who 
guarded  it,  receiving  the  last  instructions  of  the 
invader.  The  next  instant  he  was  alone,  stalking 
towards  a  little  green  point,  where  a  fringe  of  reeds 
and  water-lilies  shook  in  the  diminutive  surges.  He 
cast  his  eye  backward  to  the  two  cavaliers,  and 
beheld  them  pass  into  the  garden.  Then,  taking 
the  chain  of  beads  from  his  neck,  and  rending  it 
with  foot  and  hand,  he  cast  the  broken  jewels  into 
the  lake.  A  moment  after,  his  light  skiff  shot  from 
its  concealment,  and  the  sound  of  his  paddle  startled 
the  droning  wild-fowl  from  their  slumbers. 


THE  INFIDEL.  193 

dogs  may  look  upon  the  artillery,"  said  the  Cap- 
tain-General ;  and  perhaps  added  in  his  thoughts, 
"  that  they  may  creep  up  to  my  footstool,  taking  in 
my  greatness  from  afar,  until  their  humility  dwin- 
dles into  submissiveness." 

Presently  the  curtain  of  the  great  door  was 
pushed  aside,  and  the  Mexicans  entered,  preceded 
and  followed  by  armed  men ;  the  old  Ottomi  being 
in  advance  of  all.  They  were  twelve  in  number, 
the  chief  or  principal  being  a  man  of  lofty  stature 
and  manly  years,  wholly  differing  from  the  orator 
Olin,  for  whom  Cortes  looked  in  vain  among  the 
others.  To  indicate  the  high  rank  of  the  ambassa- 
dor, two  attendants  sustained  over  his  head,  on 
little  rods,  a  gay  canopy  or  penthouse  of  feathers. 
His  green  mantle  (for  that  was  the  colour  worn  by 
an  ambassador,)  was  of  the  richest  material,  the 
border  being  wrought  into  scroll-work  with  little 
studs  of  solid  gold.  His  buskins,  for  such  they 
might  be  called,  were  of  crimson  leather,  and  a 
crimson  fillet  was  wound  round  his  hair,  which 
was,  otherwise,  almost  covered  with  little  tufts  or 
tassels  of  cotton-down  of  the  same  hue.  Each  of 
these  singular  decorations  was  the  evidence  and 
distinguishing  badge  of  some  valiant  exploit  in  bat- 
tle ;  and  it  was  therefore  manifest  to  all  in  the 
slightest  degree  acquainted  with  the  customs  of  Ana- 
huac,  even  at  the  first  sight,  that  the  barbarian  was 
a  man  of  renown  among  the  Mexicans.  A  cluster 
of  rattling  grains  of  gold,  suspended  to  his  nostrils, 
indicated  that  he  belonged  to  the  order  of  Teuctli, 
— a  race  of  nobles  inferior  only  to  the  Tlamantli^ 
or  vassal-kings  ;  and  the  red  fillets  showed  that  he 
was  a  Prince  of  the  House  of  Darts,  the  highest  of 
the  several  chivalric  branches  into  which  this  order 
was  divided,  the  two  next  appertaining  to  the  House 
of  Eagles  and  the  House  of  Tigers. — In  introducing 
these  barbaric  terms,  we  have  no  desire  to  inflict 
upon  the  reader  a  dissertation  on  Aztec  chivalry, 

VOL.  I.  17 


194  THE  INFIDEL. 

but  simply  to  make  liim  aware,  that  these  singular 
infidels  were,  in  their  way,  nearly  as  well  provided 
with  the  vanities  of  kniirhthood  and  nobility  as 
some  of  the  European  nations  in  the  Middle  Ages. 

The  general  appearance  of  the  ambassador  was 
commanding;  his  features  weie  bold  and  harsh, 
yet  manly, — his  forehead  expanded,  thougli  inclined, 
and  furrowed  as  with  the  frowns  of  battle, — and 
his  eye  had  a  touch  of  wildness  and  ferocity,  at 
variance  with  his  modest  bearing  while  advanc- 
ing towards  the  Captain-General,  and  still  more 
strongly  contrasted  with  that  melancholy  sweetness 
of  mouth,  which  seems  to  be  a  characteristic  of  all 
the  children  of  America. — Perhaps  it  is  fillij  cha- 
racteristic, since  the  proclivity  of  their  fate  is 
equally  mournful,  throughout  all  the  continent,  lie 
bore  in  his  hand  the  gold  net  and  white  j»lume, 
hanging  to  a  headless  spear,  wliich  had  been  dis- 
played and  distinguished  afar  in  the  piragua, — 
as  Avell  as  a  golden  arrow, — both  being  the 
emblems  of  a  Mexican  envoy.  He  was  entirely 
without  arms,  as  were  all  the  rest. 

Behind  the  canopy-bearers  came  three  old  men, 
with  tablets  of  dressed  skin,  or  maguey  paper,  in 
their  hands,  known,  at  once,  to  be  writers, — secre- 
taries or  annalists, — who  accompanied  ambassa- 
dors, and  other  high  officers,  in  expeditions  of  im- 
portance, to  record  their  actions  and  preserve  the 
proofe  of  treaties. 

After  these  followed  six  Tlameme,  or  common 
carriers,  bearing  presents,  which,  with  Mexicans 
of  that  day,  as  with  Orientals  of  this,  made  no 
small  share  of  the  materiel  of  diplomacy. 

As  this  train  was  led  forward  up  to  the  chair  of 
state,  Cortes  fixed  his  eye  with  a  smile  of  appro- 
bation on  the  Ottomi,  but  did  not  think  fit  to  honour 
him  with  any  further  evidence  of  thankfulness. 
He  had  other  matters  to  fill  his  thoughts  ;  for,  at 
the  first  glance,  he  recognized  in  the  ambassador 


THE  INFIDEL.  195 

a  noble,  famous  even  in  the  days  of  Montezuma, 
for  skill,  audacity,  and  unconquerable  aversion  to 
the  strangers,  and  who,  under  the  ominous  title  of 
Masquaza-teuctli,*  or  the  Lord  of  Death,  was 
known  to  have  commanded  bodies  of  reinforcement, 
sent  to  several  different  shore-towns,  to  oppose  the 
arms  of  Cortes  in  the  late  campaign.  In  especial,  he 
was  known  to  have  devised  the  plan  of  cutting  the 
dikes  of  Iztapalapan,  after  decoying  the  Spaniards 
into  that  city,  where  they  escaped  drowning  almost 
by  a  miracle;  it  was  equally  certain  that  he  had 
commanded  the  multitudes  of  warriors,  who,  scarce 
ten  days  since,  had  repulsed  the  Spaniards  from 
Tacuba  with  consideralDle  loss ;  and  he  was  even 
supposed  to  have  been  present  in  the  sack  of  Xochi- 
milco,  where  Cortes  had  been  in  such  imminent  peril. 
The  appearance  of  this  man  was  doubly  disagree- 
able, as  being  heartily  detested  himself,  and  as 
showing  the  temper  of  Guatimozin's  mind,  who 
chose  to  send  an  envoy  so  little  inclined  to  compo- 
sition. A  murmur  of  dissatisfaction  arose  among 
the  Spaniards  present,  as  soon  as  they  were  made 
aware  of  the  ambassador's  character  ;  and  if  looks 
could  have  destroyed,  it  is  certain  the  Lord  of 
Death  would  have  passed  to  the  world  of  shades, 
before  speaking  a  word  of  his  embassy. 

Without,  however,  seeming  to  regard  these 
boding  glances  any  more  than  he  had  done  the 
hostile  opposition  of  the  brigantines,  he  began  with- 
out delay  the  usual  native  forms  of  salutation. 
But  before  he  could  pass  to  those  rhetorical  and 
reverential  flourishes  of  compliment,  which  consti- 
tuted the  exordium  of  an  ambassador's  speech,  he 

*  The  name  is  corrupted,  as  are  all  those  handed  down 
by  the  early  historians.  The  suffixes,  pilU  and  teudll,  in- 
dicate the  title,  and  are  therefore  not  a  purt  of  the  name. 
We  translate  both  brd;  though  it  would  be  more  germain 
to  the  matter,  however  ludicrous  it  might  seem,  to  say  at 
once  Duke  Death  and  Earl  Olin. 


196  THE  INFIDEL. 

was  interrupted  by  Cortes,  wliose  words  were  in- 
terpreted by  the  same  cavalier  who  had  officiated 
before,  in  the  interview  with  Olin. 

"  Masquaza-teuctJi,  Lord  of  Death !"  said  the 
Captain-General,  sternly,  "  what  dost  thou  here  in 
Tezcuco  ]" 

The  infidel  looked  up  witli  surprise,  and  havinfj 
eyed  the  Spaniard  a  moment,  replied  with  another 
question,  which  was  only  remarkable  as  indicating 
the  composure  of  the  speaker,  and  as  giving  utter- 
ance to  tones  exceedingly  soft  and  pleasant : 

"  Was  Olin  deceived,  and  did  Techeechee  lie  ?" 
he  said.  "  I  bring  the  words  of  Guatimozin  toMa- 
lintzin,  son  of  Q,uetzalcoatl,  and  Lord  of  the  Big 
Canoes  with  legs  of  crocodiles  and  wings  of  peli- 
cans." 

"  Art  thou  not  stained  with  the  blood  of  Casti- 
lians  ?"  rejoined  Cortes,  but  little  pleased  with  the 
frank  and  una  wed  bearing  of  the  envoy.  "  This 
thing  is  ill  of  Guatimozin :  why  does  he  send  me 
an  enemy  from  Tenochtitlan  V 

The  Lord  of  Death  replied  with  what  seemed  a 
lurking  smile,  if  such  could  be  traced  in  a  peculiar 
and  slight  motion  of  lips,  always  sedate,  if  not  al- 
ways melancholy ; 

"  Has  the  Teuctli  di  friend  in  Tenochtitlan  ] — Let 
Malintzin  speak  his  name  :  I  will  return. — My  little 
children  are  yet  awkward  with  the  bow  and  ar- 
row." 

"  Hark  to  the  hound  !"  exclaimed  the  Captain- 
General,  struck  more  by  the  hint  conveyed  by  the 
last  words  than  by  the  sarcasm  so  gently  expressed 
in  the  first :  "  He  would  have  me  believe  the  very 
boys  of  Mexico  are  training  to  resist  us  !  and  that 
he  thinks  it  better  honour  to  encourage  the  young 
cubs  to  malice,  than  to  speak  to  me  for  terms  of 
peace. — Hearken,  infidel :  you  spoke  of  the  young 
man  Olin.     Why  returned  not  he  to  Tezcuco  1" 

"  Malintzin  was  in  a  hurry  for  the  blood  of  Izta- 


THE  INFIDEL.  197 

pa"'apan  :  the  king  saw  the  glitter  of  spears  on  the 
lakeside,  and  said  to  his  servant,  '  Go  not  to  Tez- 
cuco  with  gold  and  sweet  words,  but  to  Iztapala- 
pan  with  axes  and  spears.' — " 

"  Ay,  marry  ;  but  Olin,  what  of  Olin-pilli  ] — I 
warrant  me,  the  knavish  king  discovered  the  craft 
of  the  knavish  noble,  and  so  killed  himi — I  was  a 
fool  to  give  him  the  beads. — What  sayst  thou,  infi- 
del !  what  has  become  of  the  Speaker  of  Wise 
Things  1  I  sent  him  to  Guatimozin  for  an  envoy ; 
and,  lo  you,  this  old  savage,  the  Silent  Dog,  has 
brought  me  what  Olin  could  not,  or  did  not.  Is 
Olin  living  ]" 

"  How  shall  I  answer  1  Ipalnemoani*  is  the  ma- 
ker of  life  ;  it  is  the  king  who  takes  it.  Olin-pilli  is 
forgotten." 

"  Ay  then,  let  him  sleep ;  and  to  thy  work,  infi- 
del, to  thy  work.  Will  Guatimozin  have  peace ! 
He  is  somewhat  late  of  decision ;  but  the  great 
monarch  of  Spain,  who  sends  me  to  speak  with 
him,  and  to  enforce  the  vassalage  acknowledged  by 
Montezuma,  is  merciful.  Speak,  then,  and  quickly. 
My  ships  are  on  the  lake,  my  soldiers  are  thicker 
than  the  reeds  on  its  banks,  and  fiercer  than  its 
waters,  when  the  torrents  rush  down  from  the 
mountains.  Will  he  have  the  blood  of  his  people 
flow  through  the  streets,  as  the  waters  of  an  inun- 
dation, when  the  dikes  are  broken  1  Speak  then, 
Lord  of  Death  ;  will  Guatimozin  acknowledge  him- 
self the  king's  vassal,  pay  tribute,  and  govern  his 
empire  in  peace  ?" 

"  Hear  the  words  of  Guatimozin,"  said  the  am- 
bassador, beckoning  to  the  Tlameme  to  open  their 
packs  :  "  The  king  sends  you  the  history  of  his 
land," — taking  up,  from  among  many  books,  which 

*  One  of  the  titles  of  the  Supreme  God,  (Teotl,)  who 
was  not  worshipped  directly,  but  through  the  medium  of 
his  agents,  the  inferior  divinities. 

17* 


198  THE  INFIDEL. 

made  the  contents  of  the  first  bundle,  a  volume  of 
hieroglyphics,  and  displaying  its  pictured  pages  : 
"  He  has  searched  for  the  time  when  the  king  of 
Castile  was  the  lord  of  his  people ;  but  it  is  not 
written.  How  then  shall  he  kiss  the  earth  before 
the  Teuctli  ?  He  has  sought  to  find  to  what  race, 
besides  the  race  of  heaven,  the  men  of  Mexico  have 
paid  tribute  :  It  is  not  written, — except  this, — that 
once,  when  his  fathers  were  poor  and  few,  the  men 
of  Cojohuacan  called  on  them  for  tribute,  and  they 
paid  it  in  the  skulls  of  their  foes.  The  men  of  Cas- 
tile call  for  tribute  :  Guatimozin  sends  them  such 
tribute  as  his  fathers  paid ;  here  it  is — twelve 
skulls  of  the  dogs  of  Chalco,  taken  in  the  act  of  re- 
bellion." And  as  he  spoke,  the  grinning  orbs  rolled 
under  his  foot  against  the  platform, 

"  Hah  !"  cried  Cortes,  starting  up,  with  as  nuich 
admiration  as  wrath,  for  he  was  keenly  alive  to 
every  burst  of  audacious  and  heroic  daring,  "  is  not 
this  a  merlin  of  a  royal  stock,  that  will  try  buffets 
with  an  eagle  ?  But,  pho !  the  young  man  is  besot- 
ted." 

"  Hear,  further,  the  words  of  Guatimozin,"  con- 
tinued the  envoy,  taking  from  the  third  bundle  two 
more  books,  and  displaying  them,  as  he  had  done 
the  first :  "  the  king  remembers  that  the  wild  Otto- 
mies  came  down  from  their  hills,  saying  that  they 
were  foolish  and  pitiful,  because  Ipalnemoani  had 
kept  them  in  darkness,  so  that  they  robbed  one 
another,  and  were  blasphemers  against  heaven. 
The  king  gave  them  religion  and  laws  ;  and,  behold, 
those  that  live  upon  the  skirts  of  the  valley,  are  be- 
come wise  and  happy.  The  king  says,  '  Have  not 
the  Spaniards  come  like  the  Ottomies  1  and  are 
they  not  very  ignorant  and  miserable  V  These  are 
the  king's  words  to  Malintzin  :  'Take  this  book, 
and  learn  how  to  worship  the  gods  :  religion  is  a 
good  thing,  and  will  make  you  happy.     Take  this 


THE  INFIDEL.  199 

book  also,  and  understand  the  laws  of  men :  justice 
is  a  good  thing,  and  will  make  you  happy." 

It  would  be  difficult  to  express  the  varied  feel- 
ings of  wonder,  anger,  scorn,  and  merriment,  with 
which  the  Spaniards  hearkened  to  this  extraordi- 
nary exhortation.  Some  stared,  some  frowned, 
some  smiled,  and  a  few  laughed  outiight ;  but  all 
immediately  betook  themselves  to  looks  of  sympa- 
thetic anger,  when  Cortes,  again  rising,  stamped 
upon  the  platform,  crying  with  a  fierceness  that 
was  in  part  unassumed, 

"  Knave  of  a  heathen  and  savage,  dost  thou  pass 
this  scorn  upon  the  religion  of  Christ  ]  this  slight 
upon  the  laws  of  Castile  ]  this  slur  upon  religious 
and  civilized  men  1  Look  upon  this  cross,  and  say 
to  Guatimozin,  that  not  a  Spaniard  shall  leave  his 
valley,  till  every  slave  that  acknowledges  his  sway, 
has  knelt  before  it,  and,  abjuring  the  fiendish  idola- 
try of  Mexitli,  has  sworn  with  a  kiss,  to  worship 
naught  else.  Look,  too,  upon  this  sword,  and  say 
to  thine  insolent  prince,  that  it  shall  not  cease  to 
strike  and  slay,  until  his  whole  people  have  ac- 
knowledged it  to  be  the  abrogator  of  the  old,  and 
the  teacher  of  a  new  law,  such  as  his  brutish 
sages  never  dreamed  of.  In  one  word,  give  him 
to  know,  that  my  purpose  in  his  land,  is  to  bestow 
upon  it  the  cross  of  heaven  and  the  laws  of  Spain ; 
and  these  I  will  bestow, — both, — so  help  me  the 
sword  which  I  grasp,  and  the  cross  that  I  wor- 
ship !" 

A  murmur  of  satisfaction  and  responsive  resolu- 
tion passed  through  the  assemblage,  which  had 
been  considerably  increased  by  the  appearance  of 
such  officers,  returning  from  the  lake-side,  as  were 
privileged  to  enter  the  presence  on  such  an  occa- 
sion. But  the  stern  voice  of  the  Captain-General 
produced  no  effect  on  the  Mexicans,  except,  indeed, 
that  one  of  the  three  writers  who  had  been  all  the 


200  THE  INFIDEL. 

time  busily  engag^ed,  as  tliey  squatted  upon  the  floor, 
recording  the  speeches,  in  their  inexplicable  manner, 
raised  his  eyes,  when  the  Christian's  voice  was  at 
the  higliest,  and  eyed  him  askant  for  a  minute  or 
two.  The  Lord  of  Death  kept  his  glance  firmly 
fixed  on  the  aspect  of  the  general,  while  listening  to 
the  interpretation  of  his  angry  vows.  Then,  when 
Cortes  had  concluded,  he  turned  to  the  fourth  pack, 
and  resumed  his  discourse,  as  if  it  were  no  part  of 
his  duty  to  reply  to  anything  not  immediately  touch- 
ing his  instructions. 

"Hear,  further,  the  words  of  Guatimozin,"  he 
said,  pointing  to  an  ear  of  maize,  a  bundle  of  cacao- 
berries,  a  cluster  of  bananas,  and  divers  other 
fruits,  as  well  as  nuts  and  esculent  roots,  which 
appeared  in  the  pack  :•  "  Thus  says  the  king  of 
Mexico  : — Is  Castile  a  naked  rock,  where  the  food 
of  man  grows  not?  Malintzin  said  to  Montezuma, 
'  The  land  is  like  other  lands,  with  earth  over  the 
flint-stone,  and  with  rivers  to  make  it  fertile  ;  soil 
comes  down  from  the  mountains,  and  heaven  sends 
frequent  rains.'  Look  at  Mexico  :  the  sun  parches 
it,  till  it  becomes  like  sand,  half  the  year  ;  the  other 
half,  the  sky  turns  to  water,  and  drowns  the  gar- 
dens and  corn-fields.  But  is  man  a  dog,  that  he 
should  how^l  w^hen  he  is  hungry,  and  run  abroad 
for  food  ]  God  gave  these  good  things  to  the  king ; 
the  king  gives  them  to  the  Spaniard.  Let  him 
throw  them  upon  the  earth,  and  sit  hard  by  in  pa- 
tience, while  the  rain  drops  upon  tliem  ;  and,  by  and 
by,  he  will  have  food  for  himself  and  his  children  : 
he  will  not  be  hungry,  and  run  forth,  like  a  dog,  to 
strange  lands,  seeking  for  food. — Hear,  further,  the 
words  of  the  king,"  continued  the  grave  barbarian, 
observing  the  impatience  of  Cortes,  and  turning  his 
anger  into  admiration,  by  suddenly  displaying  the 
contents  of  the  fifth  pack,  which  consisted  of  di- 
A'ers  ornaments  and  jewels  of  gold,  with  a  huge 
plate  of  extraordinary  value,  representing  the  sun: 


THE  INFIDEL.  201 

"  Is  there  no  yellow  dirt  in  Castile,  to  make  play- 
things for  the  women  and  children  1  Thus  says  the 
king  :  '  Let  Malintzin  take  these  things  to  his  wo- 
men and  children  ;  and,  lest  they  should,  by  and 
by,  cry  for  more,  let  him  send  a  ship  to  Guatimo- 
zin,  at  the  end  of  the  Tlalpitli,*  and  more  shall  be 
given  him.  Thus  it  shall  be  while  Guatimozin 
lives ;  and  thus  it  shall  be  hereafter,  if  the  king 
wills, — for  what  is  Guatimozin,  that  he  should 
make  a  law  for  his  successors  ]" 

The  admiration  with  which  the  Captain-General 
surveyed  the  gorgeous  present,  greatly  moderated 
his  disgust  at  the  mode  of  making  it.  He  stepped 
down  from  the  platform,  and  taking  the  massive 
disk  into  his  hands,  gloated  over  its  almost  insup- 
portable weight  and  dazzling  splendour,  with  the 
relish  of  one  who  seemed  never  to  have  felt  any 
passion  less  sordid  than  that  of  avarice.  While 
thus  engaged,  ruddy  at  once  with  delight  and  with 
the  effort  of  sustaining  such  a  precious  burthen,  a 
paper  was  put  into  his  hand,  or  rather  held  out 
for  him  to  receive,  while  a  voice  murmured  in  his 
ear, 

"  The  award  of  the  judges,  sent  to  your  excel- 
lency for  confirmation." 

The  golden  luminary  fell,  with  a  heavy  clang, 
upon  the  floor,  the  flush  fled  from  his  cheeks, 
and  the  look  with  which  he  turned  to  the  untimely 
and  ill-omened  messenger,  Villafana,  was  even 
more  ghastly  with  affright  than  that  which  distin- 
guished the  aspect  of  the  Alguazil. 

"  If  your  excellency  thinks  of  mercy,"  continued 
the  Alguazil,  in  the  same  low  and  hurried  voice, — 
"  it  is  not  yet  too  late.  They  have  him  on  the 
square,  and  are  confessing  him. — He  has  but  a  dog's 
life,  and  a  gnat's  death,  who  puts  them  in  the 
hands  of  De  Olid." — 

*   Tlalpilli — the  quarter-cycle,  or  epoch  of  13  years. 


202  THE   INFIDEL, 

Cortes  cast  liis  eye  upon  tlie  paper,  and  beheld, 
besides  the  date,  a  preamble  of  two  lines,  and  the 
signatures  of  the  judges,  the  following  brief  and 
pithy  sentences : 

"  Concealing  a  spy  and  fugitive  from  justice — 
Guilty. 

*'  Drawing  sword  upon  a  Christian — Guilty. 

"  Resisting  with  arms  an  officer  in  the  execution 
of  his  duty — Guilty. 

"  Sentence — To  be  beheaded,  his  right  hand 
struck  off  and  nailed  to  the  prison-door. — To  take 
effect  in  half  an  hour. 

*'  In  the  name  of  God  and  the  king. 

"  De  Olid, 
"  Marin, 
"  De  Ircio." 

"  Butchers  !"  cried  Cortes,  with  accents  of  un- 
speakable horror.  "  What  ho,  a  pen !  a  pen, 
knave  !  a  pen  !" 

Tlie  agitation  and  violence  of  his  voice  surprised 
even  the  stoical  Mexicans  ;  and  the  writers  looking 
up,  he  became  suddenly  aware  that  the  implements 
with  which  they  practised  their  rude  art,  would 
answer  all  his  purpose.  Darting  forward,  he 
snatched  from  the  hand  of  the  nearest,  one  of  the 
Uiany  reeds  which  he  held.  The  barbarian,  al- 
though apparently  the  oldest  and  most  infirm  of  the 
three,  mistaking  the  ])urpose  of  the  assault,  started 
to  his  feet  with  a  vivacity  of  effort,  which,  at  any 
other  moment,  would  have  drawn  a  sharp  look  of 
suspicion  from  the  Captain-General.  But  his  thoughts 
w€;re  too  much  excited  to  be  diverted  by  any  such 
seeming  inconsistency. 

It  happened,  by  a  natural  accident,  (for  each  reed 
was  api)ropriated  to  its  peculiar  colour,)  that  that 
which  Cortes  had  seized  contained  a  dark  crimson 


THE  INFIDEL.  203 

ink.  Still,  natural  as  the  circumstance  was.  it  had 
no  sooner  touched  the  paper  than  he  shuddered, 
and  muttering  '  Blood !  blood !'  seemed  as  if  he 
would  have  cast  it  away.  But  recovering  himself 
in  an  instant,  with  a  faint  and  forced  laugh,  he 
subscribed  the  few  words, 

"  Confirmed. — Respite  for  twenty-four  hours. 

"  Cortes." 

and  putting  the  paper  into  Villafana's  hands,  he 
dismissed  him  with  the  hurried  charge, 

"  Away — see  to  it." 

He  then  flung  the  reed  back  to  the  writer  who 
had  already  resumed  his  squatting  attitude,  and 
reascended  the  platform. 

On  those  who  surmised  the  cause  of  this  sudden 
interruption,  the  agitation  of  Don  Hernan  had  the 
good  effect  of  banishing  from  their  minds  any  lin- 
gering suspicions  of  his  entertaining  personal  ill- 
will  towards  the  unfortunate  Lerma.  All  went  to 
show  that  he  was  shocked  at  the  young  man's  fate, 
and  the  necessity  of  ministering  to  it,  even  in  the 
simple  act  of  confirming  a  judgment,  awarded  by 
others  ;  but,  unhappily,  the  same  feeling  that  exo- 
nerated the  judge,  still  further  increased  the  odium 
attached  to  the  criminal.  How  great,  they  thought, 
must  be  the  guilt  of  him  whom  it  causes  Cortes  so 
much  suffering  to  condemn. — But  the  Captain-Gene- 
ral, recovering  himself,  gave  them  little  time  for 
such  speculations. 

"  Well,  infidel,  thou  speakest  well,"  he  cried,  his 
voice  becoming  firmer  with  each  syllable ;  "  What 
hidest  thou  in  the  sixth  bundle  ? — or  rather,  what 
if  I  should  accept  thy  master's  niggardly  offer,  and 
depart  with  these  baubles  for  women  and  children, 
as  thou  hast  rightly  called  them  V 

"  Hear  the  words  of  Guatimozin,"  replied  the 
ambassador,  with  a  careless  emphasis,  as  if  pro- 


204  THE  INFIDEL. 

peiiy  understanding  tlie  futility  of  the  proposal, 
and,  indeed,  with  a  look  of  scorn,  as  if  learning  to 
despise  one  capable  of  Don  Hernan's  late  weakness  : 
"  If  Malintzin  depart  with  the  fifth  pack,  cast  the 
sixth  into  the  lake,  and  tell  him,  that,  in  its  place, 
he  shall  have  sent  after  him  to  the  seaside,  a  thou- 
sand sacks  of  robes  and  four  thousand  sacks  of 
corn,  to  clothe  and  feed  his  people  as  they  sail 
over  the  endless  sea.     Say  to  him  besides — " 

"  Pho,"  interrupted  Cortes,  "  have  done  with 
this  mummery,  and  get  thee  to  the  sixth  sack,  which 
I  am  impatient  to  examine.  What  hast  thou 
there  1" 

"  The  riches  which  are  more  precious  to  Mexico 
than  the  trinkets  of  her  children,"  replied  the  stately 
barbarian;  and,  as  he  spoke,  he  rolled  upon  the 
floor,  arrowheads  and  spearpoints  of  bright  copper, 
sharp  blades  of  itzli  and  heavy  maces  of  flint,  which 
made  up  the  contents  of  the  last  bundle :  "  Hear 
the  words  of  Guatimozin,"  he  continued,  with  a 
dignity  of  bearing  that  might  have  become  a  Spar- 
tan envoy  in  the  camp  of  the  Persian  ;  "  thus  says 
the  king:  '  What  is  the  Lord  of  Castile,  that  Guati- 
mozin should  call  him  master "?  what  is  Malintzin, 
that  Guatimozin  should  make  him  his  friend !  The 
Teuctli  burns  my  cities,  murders  my  children,  and 
spits  in  the  face  of  my  gods.  His  religion  is  mur- 
der, his  law  robbery  :  he  is  strong,  yet  very  unjust ; 
he  is  wise,  yet  he  makes  men  mad.  Guatimozin 
has  called  together  the  chiefs  and  the  planters  of 
corn,  the  wise  men  and  the  foolish,  the  strong  and 
the  feeble,  the  old  men,  the  women  and  the  chil- 
dren. He  has  spoken  to  them,  and  they  have  re- 
plied :  '  Is  not  the  sword  better  than  the  whip  ?  is 
not  the  arrow  softer  than  the  brand  J  is  not  the 
fagot  of  fire  pleasanter  than  the  chain  of  captivity ! 
is  not  death  sweeter  than  slavery  ]'  Thus  says  the 
old  man, — '  I  am  old ;  wherefore,  then,  should  I  be 
a  ^lave  for  a  day  r     Thus  says  the  little  infant, — 


THE  INFIDEL.  205 

*I  am  a  little  child;  why  should  I  be  a  slave  for 
many  years  V  This,  then,  is  the  word  of  the  whole 
people ;  it  is  Guatimozin  who  speaks  it :  'If  the 
gods  desert  me,  what  have  I  to  yield  but  life !  if 
they  help  me,  as  they  have  helped  my  fathers, 
what  have  I  to  do,  but  to  drive  away  my  foe  ]  Let 
Malintzin  look  at  my  weapons,  and  put  two  plates 
of  the  black-copper  of  Castile  on  his  bosom,  for  I  am 
very  strong  in  my  sorrow,  and  I  will  strike  very 
hard.  Let  Malintzin  fear :  the  rebels  of  Tezcuco 
and  Cholula,  the  traitors  of  Chalco  and  Otumba, 
are  but  straws  to  help  him :  can  they  look  in  the 
face  of  a  Mexican?  Let  Malintzin  fear:  is  he 
stronger  than  when  he  fled  from  Tenochtitlan,  in 
the  month  of  Mourning  I*  has  not  Mexico  more 
fighting  men  than  when  the  horn  of  the  gods  sound- 
ed at  midnight,  and  the  Teuctli  sat  on  the  stone 
and  wept] — on  the  stone  of  Tacuba,  by  the  water- 
side, when  the  morning  came,  and  his  people  slept 
in  the  ditches  1  If  Malintzin  will  fight,  so  will  Guati- 
mozin.' These  are  the  words  of  the  king ;  these 
are  the  words  of  the  people:  they  are  said.  The 
gods  behold  us." 

So  spake  the  bold  savage ;  and  as  if  to  show  that 
even  the  basest  and  feeblest  shared  his  courage, 
and  sanctioned  his  defiance,  the  very  Tlameme 
looked  around  them  with  a  show  of  spirit,  and  the 
three  old  men  expressed  their  satisfaction  with  au- 
dible murmurs. 

The  Spaniards  were  surprised  at  the  fearless 
tones  of  the  Lord  of  Death,  and  not  a  few  were 
impressed  with  alarm  as  well  as  anger,  when  he 
referred  so  unceremoniously  to  the  events  of  the 
fatal  Noche  Triste.  As  for  Cortes  himself,  though 
the  frown  with  which  he  listened  to  the  whole  ora- 

*  Enibrac'ing'  a  portion  respectively  of  June  and  July, 
and  devoted  to  austere  and  penitential  preparation  for  a 
coming  festival. 

VOL.  I.  18 


206  THE  INFIDEL. 

tion,  had  become  darker  and  darker  as  the  warrior- 
noble  proceeded,  yet,  apparently,  he  had  become 
sensible,  both  from  the  tenor  of  the  discourse  and 
the  resolute  bearincr  of  the  speaker,  that  it  should 
be  answered  with  g^ravity  rather  than  anger.  Hence, 
when  he  en  me  to  reply,  it  was  in  terms  briefly  im- 
pressive and  solemn : 

"  My  young  brother  Guatimozin  is  unwise,  and 
he  is  digging  the  grave  of  his  whole  people.  He 
has  evil  counsellors  about  him.  I  have  somewhat 
to  say  to  him  ;  and,  to-morrow,  you  shall  be  sent 
back  with  an  answer,  which  will  perhaps  dispel  his 
foolish  dream  of  resistance." — He  observed  that  the 
Lord  of  Death  looked  displeased  and  even  alarmed, 
when  the  interpreter  made  him  sensible  tiiat  he  was 
to  be  detained  until  the  morrow.  "  Be  not  alarm- 
ed," he  continued,  sternly  :  "  when  didst  thou  ever 
hear  of  a  Christian  aping  the  treachery  of  thy  na- 
tive princes,  and  doing  wrong  to  an  ambassador  1 
I  tell  thee,  fellow,  infidel  though  thou  be,  I  will  do 
thee  honour,  in  respect  of  thy  young  master.  To- 
morrow thou  shalt  eat  at  my  board,  for  it  is  a  day 
of  banqueting  ;  and  to-morrow,  also,  shalt  thou  be 
made  acquainted  with  my  answer  to  the  king's 
message,  which  it  is  not  possible  I  should  speak  to- 
day. Rest  you  then  content. — Hark  thee,  Villafa- 
na,"  (for  the  Alguazil  had  returned,)  "  have  thou 
charge  of  this  bitter-tongued  knave  and  his  dumb 
companions.  Entreat  them  well,  but  see  that  they 
neither  escape  nor  communicate  with  any  one  in  this 
army.  Christian  or  misbeliever.  And  look  well  to  thy 
prison  too. — This  knave,  Techeechee, — bring  him 
to  me  when  thou  changest  guards  at  the  prison," 

Then,  breaking  up  the  audience,  he  remained  for 
a  time  in  conference  with  a  few  of  the  chief  officers^ 
debating  subjects  of  great  importance,  but  which 
would  be  of  no  interest  to  the  readers  of  this  his- 
tory. 


THE  INFIDEL.  207 


CHAPTER  XVIIL 


Some  two  hours  after*  nightfall,  as  the  unhappy 
Lerma  lay  in  darkness  and  solitude,  (for  Befo  was 
no  longer  permitted  to  be  his  companion,)  the  door 
of  the  prison  opened,  and  the  Alguazil,  Villafana, 
entered,  bearing  a  lantern,  which  emitted  just  suf- 
ficient hght  to  allow  his  features  to  be  distinguished, 
together  with  what  seemed  a  flask  of  wine — a  luxu- 
ry now  to  be  occasionally  obtained,  since  vessels 
arrived  not  unfrequently  from  the  islands. 

"  How  now,  what  cheer,  seiior  ?"  he  exclaimed, 
setting  down  the  flask  upon  the  table,  and  turning 
the  light  full  upon  Juan's  face ;  "  are  you  saying 
your  prayers  ?  Here's  that  shall  give  you  better 
comfort, — something  from  the  vineyards  of  Xeres 
de  la  Frontera, — stout  Sherry,  that  shall  make  your 
heart  bounce,  were  it  broken  twice  over. — Come, 
faith,  it  will  make  you  merry." 

"  I  shall  never  be  merry  more,"  said  Juan  ;  "  and 
why  should  11  It  is  better  I  should  not.  I  thank 
you  for  your  good- will,  Villafana  ;  but  I  would  that, 
instead  of  this  wine,  if  it  be  not  contrary  to  your 
duty,  you  would  fetch  me  the  good  father  Olmedo, 
to  finish  the  confession,  begun  upon  the  block,  and 
so  abruptly  interrupted,  this  morning." 

"  Pho,  be  not  in  such  a  hurry  :  you  have  time 
enough.  The  priest  is  busy,  and  knowing  he  must 
shrive  you  to-morrow,  he  will  be  ill  inclined  to 
trouble  himself  superfluously  to-night.  Come,  sit 
up,  drink,  laugh,  and  curse  thy  foes.     Come,  now, 


208  THE  INFIDEL. 

— a  merry  God's  blessing  !  may  you  live  a  thousand 
years  ! — Dzooa: !  ball :  dzoog ! — Now  could  I  fight 
sev^en  tigers  !" 

"  It  is  better  thou  shouldst  drink  it  than  I,"  said 
Juan,  observing  the  strong  and  somewhat  flintastic 
gestures  with  whicli  the  Alguazil  expressed  liis  ap- 
probation, after  having  taken  a  hearty  draught  of 
the  liquor  ;  "  yet  betliink  thee,  Villafana, — " 

"  'Slid  !"  interrupted  the  jailer,  "  bethink  thyself! 
and  bethink  thee  that  this  will  make  thee  a  good 
fellow  of  a  warhorse  mettle,  whereas,  now,  thou  art 
but  a  sick  lambkin.  What  makes  a  beggar  a  king, 
hah  ]  a  tailor's  'prentice  a  Cid  Ruy  Diaz  of  Castile, 
— a  doughty  Campeador  1  Pho,  there  is  more  of 
this,  and  to-morrow  it  will  flow  :  Dost  thou  not 
know,  Don  Demonios,  our  king,  has  invited  us  to  a 
banquet  to-morrow  ?  Thou  shalt  hear  this  banquet 
spoken  of  for  a  thousand  years.  Ah,  the  good  ship  ! 
the  good  ship  !  there  is  a  better  thing  she  brings  us 
than  wine. — But  that  is  neither  here  nor  there. 
Why  dost  thou  not  drink  !" 

"  Am  I  not  condemned  to  death  for  the  infraction 
of  a  decree?"  said  Juan,  somewhat  sternly,  for  he 
thought  he  perceived  in  Villafana's  levity  a  symp- 
tom of  undue  excitement ;  "  and  dost  thou  not  re- 
member that  there  is  a  decree  also  against  drunk- 
enness ?  Thou  hast  suffered  somewhat  from  this 
already." 

"  Dost  thou  suppose  there  is  a  hell  ?"  said  Villa- 
fana, with  some  such  look  as  that  which  had  ap- 
palled Juan,  when  he  walked  -with  him  over  the 
meadows  beyond  the  city :  "  For,  if  thou  dost, 
know  then,  that  I  make  my  promise  to  the  infernal 
fiend,  to  broil  with  him  seven  times  seven  thousand 
years,  if  I  do  not,  with  a  stab  for  every  lash,  make 
up  my  reckoning  with  the  man  who  degraded  me  ! 
Ojala  and  Amen  ! — So  now,  there's  enough  to  keep 
thee  quiet. — Hast  thou  any  gall  any  where  but  in 
thy  liver  .'" 

"  Thou  art  besotted,  or  insane,  I   think,"  said 


THE  INFIDEL.  209 

Juan,  angrily.     "  I  am  a  dying-  man  :  begone,  and 
suffer  me  to  make  my  peace  with  lieaven." 

"  Come,  you  think  I  am  drunk,"  said  Villafana, 
somewliat  more  rationally  :  "  I  grant  you  ;  but  it  is 
with  a  stuff  stronger  than  strong  drink ; — ay,  faith, 
for,  to-morrow,  I  see  my  way  to  heaven  ! — Answer 
me,  truly :  have  you  no  thirst  for  vengeance  on 
those  who  have  brought  you  to  this  pass  ] — You 
see  I  am  sober,  hah?  One  would  not  die  like  a 
sheep. — You  may  play  the  wolf  yet.  What  if  you 
had  an  opportunity — " 

"  Tempt  me  not,  knave,"  said  Juan,  turning 
away  his  face — "  Avoid  thee,  Satan  !" 

"  What  if  I  should  knock  open  thy  doors,  and  put 
a  sword  into  thy  hand  ?"  said  Villafana,  bending 
over,  so  as  to  whisper  into  his  ear ;  "  what  wouldst 
thou  do  with  it  ]" 

*'  Break  it,"  replied  the  prisoner,  wrapping  his 
mantle  about  his  head,  as  if  to  shut  out  all  further 
temptation. 

"  Thou  art  a  fool,"  said  the  Alguazil,  with  a 
growl,  and  left  the  apartment. 

Juan  heard  his  retreating  steps,  followed  by  the 
clanking  of  the  chain,  which,  with  a  strong  padlock, 
on  the  outside,  secured  the  door  of  the  prison ;  yet 
he  neither  raised  his  head,  nor  removed  the  mantle 
from  his  face,  but  endeavoured  to  drive  from  his 
heart  the  thoughts  of  passion,  excited  by  the  words 
of  the  tempter.  From  this  gloomy  task  he  was 
roused  by  a  soft  voice,  murmuring,  as  it  seemed  to 
him  from  the  air,  for  he  was  not  aware  of  the 
presence  of  any  human  being  in  the  apartment, — 

"  Does  the  Great  Eagle  fear  the  face  of  his 
friend  ]" 

He  started  to  his  feet,  and  beheld  in  the  light  of 
the  lantern,  which  Villafana  had  left  on  the  table, 
the  figure   of  an   ancient  Indian,   standing  hard 
by. 

"  Techeechee !"    he   exclaimed — "  But   no ;    thy 
18^ 


210  THE   INFIDEL. 

speech  is  pure,  thy  tonirne  is  another's.     Who  art 
thou,  gray-head  of  Mexico  I" 

"  To-day,  Cojotl,  the  cunning  fox  of  scribes, — 
yesterday,  Olin,  the  tongue  of  nobles, — but  before, 
and  iiereafler,  Guatiinozin,  the  friend  of  the  Great 
Eagle,"  replied  the  Indian,  and  as  he  spoke,  he 
exchanged  the  decrepit  stooj)  of  age  for  the  lofty 
demeanour  of  youth,  and  parted  the  gray  locks 
■wliich  had  hitherto  almost  concealed  his  coun- 
tenance. 

"  Rash  jH'ince,"  said  Juan,  "  will  you  yet  wear 
the  cliains  of  Montezuma]  Why  dost  thou  again 
entrust  thyself  among  Spaniards  I" 

"  How  came  the  Great  Eagle  into  the  place  of 
Guatimozinl"  demanded  the  young  Mexican,  ex- 
jiressively :  "  Shall  he  die  for  Guatimozin,  and 
Guatimozin  stand  afar  off !" 

"  Alas,  prince,"  said  Juan,  "  thy  friendship  is 
noble,  but  can  do  me  no  good.  Leave  this  place, 
where  thou  art  in  great  danger,  and  think  of  me 
no  more.  I  am  beyond  the  reach  of  help.  Think 
of  thyself, — of  thy  people,  (for,  surely,  it  is  thy 
duty  to  i)rotect  them,)  and  depart  while  thou 
canst." 

"  And  what  am  I,  that  I  should  do  this  thing  3" 
said  Guatimozin.  "  Listen  to  me,  son  of  the  day- 
spring  :  the  cliildren  of  Spain  are  wolves  and  rep- 
tiles ;  the  iztli  is  sharp  for  them,  and  it  must  not 
spare.  But  thou,  the  young  Eagle,  shalt  remain 
the  fiiend  of  Guatimozin,  Has  not  Mahntzin  eaten 
of  thy  blood  !  is  he  not  like  the  big  tiger  that  takes 
by  the  throat?  and  who  shall  draw  him  away? 
Canst  thou  remain,  and  smile  on  another  sunset  ? 
I  bring  thee  liberty." 

"  How  !"  said  Juan  ;  "  is  Villafana  this  traitor, 
that  he  will  permit  me  to  escape  ?" 

"  He  is  a  rat  with  tw^o  faces,"  said  the  prince, 
significantly;  "he  fears  the  WTath  of  Malintzin;  he 
loves  gold,  but  he  says  thou  shalt  not  go  till  to- 


THE  INPiDEL,  21 1 

morrow,  and  to-morrow  thou  wilt  be  in  Mictlan, 
the  world  of  caves.  But  Guatimozin  can  do  what 
the  traitor  Christian  will  not.  The  Eagle  is  very 
brave :  he  shall  kill  his  foe." 

As  Guatimozin  spoke,  he  drew  from  his  cloak  a 
Spanish  dagger,  long,  sharp  and  exceedingly  bright, 
— a  relic  of  the  spoils  won  from  the  invaders  in  the 
Night  of  Sorrow, — and  offered  it  to  the  prisoner, 
adding, 

"  When  I  depart,  a  soldier  will  fasten  the  door. 
If  thou  art  strong-hearted,  thou  canst  rush  by, 
dealing  him  a  blow.  At  the  water's  edge,  by  the 
broken  wall,  thou  wilt  find  a  friend  with  a  canoe ; 
it  is  Techeechee.  Is  not  Tenochtitlan  hard  by  J 
Guatimozin,  the  king  of  Mexico,  will  make  his  friend 
welcome." 

"  Prince,"  said  Juan,  sadly,  "  this  thing  cannot 
be.  Why  should  1  strike  down  the  poor  sentinel  1 
He  has  done  me  no  wrong.  What  would  become 
of  thee]  Thou  couldst  not  escape.  What  would 
become  of  Villafana,  who,  knave  though  he  be,  has 
3''et  done  much  to  serve  me?  And  what,  to  con- 
clude, would  become  of  me,  escaping  from  Chris- 
tians, to  take  refuge  among  thy  unbelieving  people? 
I  can  die,  prince,  but  I  can  be"  neither  renegade  nor 
apostate." 

"  Is  there  nothing  in  Tenochtitlan,  that  dwells 
in  the  thoughts  of  the  captive  I  I  will  be  very 
good  to  thee ;  and  thou  shalt  drink  the  blood  of 
thy  foe." 

"  Prince,"  said  Juan,  firmly,  "  thine  eye  cannot 
search  the  soul  of  a  Christian.  Malintzin  has 
done  me  a  great  wrong,  yet  would  I  not  harm  a 
hair  of  his  head ;  no,  heaven  is  my  witness  !  I  can 
forgive  him  even  my  death,  howev^er  unjust  and 
cruel." 

"  It  is  a  dove  of  Cholula  that  speaks  in  the  voice 
of  my  friend,"  said  the  infidel,  struck  with  as  much 
disdain  as  surprise  at  the  want  of  spirit,  which  his 


212  THE  INFIDEL. 

barbarous  code  of  honour  discovored  in  a  lack  of 
vindictiveness  :  "  Is  a  man  a  worm  that  he  should 
be  trampled  on  1" 

"No,"  said  Juan,  bitterly, — for  he  could  not  re- 
sist his  feelings  of  inditrnation,  when  he  suffered 
himself  to  consider  his  degradation  in  this  light. 
"  Had  I  resisted  him  in  his  first  anger,  had  I  re- 
sented his  first  injustice,  had  I  provoked  liim  by 
any  complaint,  then  might  I  think  of  his  course  with 
submission.  But  I  have  not;  I  have  been,  indeed, 
as  thou  sayest,  a  worm,  at  all  times  helpless,  at  all 
times  unresisting.  Others  have  com}">lained,  some 
have  defied  him,  but  they  passed  unpunished.  I,  who 
have  yielded,  like  a  woman,  escape  not :  I  creep 
from  the  ]iath  of  his  anger,  but  his  foot  follows  me, 
— turn  which  way  I  will,  it  crushes  me.  Even 
Befo  will  show  his  teeth  sometimes — I  have  seen 
him  growl  when  Cortes  struck  him — and  by  mine 
nonour,  I  think  he  struck  him,  because  he  was 
once  mine  !" 

How  far,  by  indulging  such  thoughts,  he  might 
have  wrought  himself  into  the  veiy  spirit  which 
Guatimozin  was  surprised  to  lind  absent,  we  will 
not  venture  to  say.  He  was  interrupted  by  the 
sudden  re-entrance  of  Villafana,  who  immediately 
exclaimed, 

"  Will  you  have  my  brother  Najara  diving  in 
upon  you  ]  Pho,  you  talk  too  loud :  'tis  well  you 
were  gabbling  in  Mexican.  Hark  ye,  Olin,  you 
knave,  get  you  gone  !  to  your  den,  sirrah  ! — Pray, 
senor  Juan,  tell  this  rascal,  in  his  own  gibberish, 
that  he  cannot  remain  a  moment  longer  from  his 
lock-up,  without  ])eing  discovered. — Come,  fellow, 
come:  you  shall  have  more  talk  to-morrow." 

So  saying,  the  Alguazil  conducted  the  Mexican 
away.  A  few  moments  after,  he  returned  alone. 
Juan,  still  disordered  and  brooding  over  his  wrongs, 
paced  to  and  fro  over  the  narrow  limits  of  his  cell. 


THE  INFIDEL.  213 

His  agitation  increased  with  each  step,  and,  at  last, 
finding  that  Villafana  did  not  speak,  he  exclaimed, 

"  Come,  Villafana, — I  know  what  thou  wilt  say, 
—am  I  not  used  dog-like  ]  He  disdained  even  to 
sit  upon  the  trial,  to  ask  me  what  I  had  to  urge  in 
excuse  of  my  folly ;  but  left  this  to  judges,  who 
were  content  to  ask  '  Didst  thou  this  ]'  and  '  Didst 
thou  that  ]'  without  permitting  me  a  word  of  de- 
fence. Surely,  I  had  much  provocation  in  the  mat- 
ter of  Guzman ;  and  as  for  the  decree,  it  should 
have  been  remembered,  that  I  w^as  come  into  the 
camp  too  short  a  time  to  have  made  it  as  fast  in  my 
mind  as  others,  who  had  heard  it  daily  proclaimed 
for  months.  I  must  die  for  this  ! — die  like  a  hunted 
assassin ! — my  hand  stuck  against  the  prison-door, 
my  body  given,  perhaps,  to  fatten  the  lean  hogs 
that  will  fatten  my  judges  !  Oh,  by  heaven,  this  is 
intolerable  to  think  on !" 

"  Thou  wilt  believe,  now,  that  thou  wert  sent  to 
the  South  Sea  for  no  good  ]" 

"  Ay,  I  will  believe  anything,"  said  Juan,  in  in- 
creasing excitement.  "And  this  too  !  scarce  an  hour 
returned  from  my  sufferings,  endured  for  him, — 
endured  to  regain  his  good-will !  Ay,  and  before  I 
had  done  speaking,  he  would  have  sent  me  to 
Mexico,  to  be  sacrificed  there  ! — before  I  had  eaten 
and  drunk !  before  I  had  rested  my  wearied  body, 
before  I  had  recruited  my  exhausted  strength ! — 
Tell  me,  Villafana  !  was  it  not  by  his  design  I  was 
entrapped  into  giving  shelter  to — But,  no !  that 
could  not  be ;  in  that,  at  least,  he  must  be  innocent. 
But,  in  the  rest,  it  is  oppression,  grinding,  intolera- 
ble oppression !" 

"  Well,  1  marvel  he  did  not  let  thee  off  with  a 
scourging,"  said  Villafana,  swallowing  another 
draught  from  the  neglected  flask.  "  Come,  drink, 
and  we  will  discourse  together." 

"  A  scourging !"  said  Juan,  seizing  the  Alguazil's 


214  THE   INFIDEL. 

arm  with  a  grasp  which  showed  that  imprisonment 
and  sorrow  had  not  altoircthor  robbed  him  of 
strength  ;  "  dare  you  talk  to  me  of  scourging  !" 

"  Ay,  marry,"  said  Villafana,  whose  object  seemed 
to  be  to  excite  the  shimbering  fury  of  the  young 
man,  and  who  now,  in  the  effect  of  a  word  used  for 
another  purpose,  discovered  a  point  on  which  his 
equanimity  was  not  impregnable ;  "  ay,  faith  ;  for 
the  whole  army  cries  out  upon  his  barbarity,  saying 
that  he  is  murdering  you  ;  so  that  he  already  talks 
of  letting  you  off  with  a  scourging. — He  was  as 
good  with  me." 

"  By  the  saints  of  heaven  !"  cried  Juan,  snatcliing 
up  the  dagger  which  Guatimozin  had  left,  and  .strik- 
ing it  into  the  table  with  a  fury  which  split  the 
plank  in  twain,  "  were  it  his  own,  I  would  drive  this 
steel  into  the  breast  of  the  man  that  designed  me 
such  dishonour.  Scourge  me !  Thanks  be  to  hea- 
ven, that  sends  this  weapon  !" 

"  Oho,  seiior  !"  said  Villafana,  with  counterfeited 
indignation,  "  you  will  resist,  will  you  !  Hah !  and 
you  have  a  dagger,  too  !  Come,  senor,  give  it  up." 

"  Fool,"  said  the  prisoner,  "  tliy  bitter  words  have 
unchained  me  at  last,  and  driven  me  to  desperation. 
I  will  not  yield  this  weapon  but  with  my  life.  Wo 
betide  him  that  comes  to  me  with  a  scourge,  were 
it  Don  Hernan  himself!" 

"  You  will  resist  him  then  1 — Why  now  you  are 
a  man  again !  Sit  down ;  fear  not :  you  shall 
have  a  better  weapon.  Come,  let  us  drink  a 
little :  'tis  a  raw  night,  and  rainy.  Here's  success 
to  our  vengeance — a  quart  of  blood  apiece  !  Me- 
thinks,  you  are  more  wronged  than  myself — There- 
fore, you  shall  strike  the  first  blow.  I  give  you 
this  privilege,  out  of  friendship.  The  second  is 
mine." 

While  Villafana  held  forth  in  these  extraordinary 
terms,  Juan,  shocked  into  composure,  became 
aware  that  the  wine,  which  the  Alguazil  plied  with 


I 


THE  INFIDEL.  215 

characteristic  infatuation,  had  ah'eady  made  serious 
inroads  upon  his  brain.  He  ogled  and  smiled,  with 
a  stupid  contortion  of  countenance,  which  was 
meant  to  be  significant ;  his  articulation  was  im- 
peded, and  his  expressions  coarser  than  usual ;  and 
without  being  positively  drunk,  he  was  reduced  to 
that  condition  in  which  the  natural  propensities  get 
the  better  of  all  artificial  qualities.  Hence,  he  be- 
came fierce  and  bloody-minded,  without  displaying 
any  of  the  subtle  cautiousness  and  cunning  inquisi- 
tiveness,  that  were  common  to  him  in  his  sober 
hours.  It  was  for  this  reason  that  he  proceeded  to 
unfold  the  secrets  of  his  breast,  without  being  in 
any  degree  abashed  by  the  looks  of  horror,  with 
which  Juan  heard  him. 

"  Know  then,  brother  Juan,"  said  he,  "  that  thou 
shalt  lap  the  blood  of  Don  Demonios  to-morrow 
morning,  at  the  banquet-table ;  and  afterwards 
hang  up  Guzman  with  thine  own  hands.  Thou  art 
too  white-livered,  or  thou  shouldst  have  known  of 
the  matter  earlier.  Also,  thou  shalt  have  thy  fair 
nun  again,  as  before : — that  is,  upon  condition  she 
likes  thee  better  than  me ;  which  may  be,  or  may 
not,  for  who  can  tell  whether  the  star  will  shoot 
into  the  marsh,  or  fall  upon  the  mountain  1 — Bah  ! 
it  is  a  pity  I  brought  thee  not  another  flagon.  Bus- 
ta  !  I  will  drink  no  more ;  for  this  is  no  time  to  be 
thick-witted. — Know  then,  Jifctnito  querido,  we  have 
brought  our  conspiracy  to  a  head ;  and  out  of  the 
nine  hundred  Christians  in  this  town  there  are  two 
hundred  and  forty  sworn  on  dirk,  buckler,  and  cru- 
cifix, to  our  whole  game, — three  hundred,  who  will 
wink  and  stand  by,  till  the  play  is  over, — three  hun- 
dred who  will  swear  faith  to  the  devil  himself,  when 
Don  Demonios  lies  hid  in  his  pocket, — and  as  for 
the  rest,  why  we  must  e'en  have  some  hanging  and 
stabbing." 

"  In  heaven's  name,"  said  Juan,  "  what  dost  thou 


216  THE  INFIDEL. 

mean?  Art  tliou  really  mad?    Bethink  thee  what 
thou  art  saying !" 

"  Hah  !"  cried  Villafana,  "  wilt  thou  skulk  back- 
wards, after  all  ?  Dost  thou  jiretend  to  oppose  us  ? 
We  had  some  thoughts  of  n^aking  thee  one  of  the 
three  chief  captains.  This  Olea  stands  to  ;  for  he 
swears  thou  art  the  best  leader  in  the  camp." 

"  Is  Caspar  sworn  among  you  ?"  said  Juan,  with 
a  faint  voice,  his  detestation  of  the  bloody  scheme 
arousing  him  to  the  necessity  of  sifting  it  to  the 
bottom — for  he  forgot  his  captivity,  and  thought 
only  of  arresting  the  progress  of  a  treason  so  fear- 
ful. 

"  Ay,"  returned  the  Alguazil ;  "  and  better  men 
than  he.  Come,  claj)  thy  name  to  the  paper,  and 
I  swear  thou  shalt  have  a  command  among  us, 
though  I  should  kill  thy  rival-candidate  Gil  Gonzales^ 
with  my  own  hand.  Dost  thou  not  know  these 
fellows  ]     We  have  hidalgos  among  us." 

As  he  spoke,  he  pulled  from  his  bosom  a  paper, 
on  which  Juan  read  with  affright  the  names  of  se- 
veral men  of  rank,  mingled  with  those  of  common 
soldiers,  with  many  of  which  he  was  familiar.  His 
first  thought  was  to  secure  this  dreadful  list,  and 
calling  to  the  guards  about  the  prison,  arrest  the 
Alguazil  upon  the  spot.  A  moment's  consideration 
determined  him  to  take  further  advantage  of  the 
communicativeness  of  the  traitor,  until  made  ac- 
quainted with  all  the  details  of  the  conspiracy. 
He  bridled  his  anger,  therefore,  and  concealing  his 
horror  under  an  apjiearance  of  doubt  and  hesitation, 
to  which  his  trembling  agitation  gave  no  little 
force,  he  said, 

"  How  is  this  ?  Are  these  names  good  and 
true?"— 

"  See  you  not  Barba  Roxa's  sign-manual,  near 
the  bottom  of  the  list  ?  He  subscribed  it  last  night- 
He  draws  the  figure  of  a  knife  well,  as  one  who 


THE  INFIDEL.  217 

knows  how  to  use  it.     But  as  for  thee,  nino  miOj 
thou  art  able  to  write  thy  signature  in  full." 

"  Stay,"  cried  Juan.  "  What  are  you  to  do  1 
You  spoke  of  a  banquet,  and  the  morning.  Assas- 
sination, hah?" 

"  Did  I  not  tell  thee  before  ?  Look,"  said  the 
Alguazil,  with  a  harsh  laugh,  displaying  a  letter, 
well  secured  with  wax  and  fillet,  on  which  was 
written  the  name  of  the  Captain-General.  "  Know, 
that  this  letter,  written  carefully  on  the  outside,  by 
mine  own  hand,  (for  there  is  nothing  within,)  comes 
from  the  seiior's  sire,  old  Don  Martin,  whom  the 
devil  take  to  his  rest,  for  fathering  so  ill-tempered 
a  son.  This  letter,  thou  must  know,"  he  went  on 
with  a  chuckle  of  self-approving  craft,  "  came  in 
the  ship  of  Seville  that  brought  this  good  wine, 
and  was,  by  an  evil  accident,  detained  on  the  way. 
Know,  sirrah,  and  this  is  my  device :  The  general 
hath  forgotten  to  invite  me  to  his  feast  to-morrow, 
in  honour  of  his  saint-day,  or  some  other  thing — 
Quien  sabe  ?  It  is  very  rude.  But  he  has  invited 
all  my  caballeros  on  this  paper,  and  some  four 
score  soldiers,  w'ho  are  down  likewise.  The  rest 
will  take  their  ease  in  the  vestibule,  and  on  the 
square,  to  be  ready.  What  do  I  then  ?  Marry,  this : 
I  break  in  upon  the  revel  with  the  letter  in  my  hand, 
and  a  dagger  in  my  sleeve ;  the  others  crowd 
round  with  congratulations,  and  I  strike  him  under 
the  ribs — Pho  !  I  forgot ;  thou  canst  not  have  the 
first  blow,  as  I  promised  thee ;  but  thou  shalt  fol- 
low, cloaked  up  to  the  eyes,  and  be  free  to  take  the 
second. — What  dost  thou  think  of  my  plot,  hah, 
dear  devil  T     Hah  ! — " 

"  That  it  is  the  most  damnable  and  dastardly 
ever  devised  by  villain,  and  shall  bring  thee  to  a 
villain's  death.  Rogue !  didst  thou  think  thou 
couldst  tell  this  to  wie,  and  live  ]  I  have  thy  trea- 
son in  my  hand,  and  will  use  it  as  it  becomes  an 

VOL.  I.  19 


218  THE  INFIDEL. 

honourable  man  and  Christian.     "What  ho,  guards ! 
treason,  treason !" 

Greatly  astounded  as  Villafana  was  by  this  un- 
expected defection,  the  shock  served  rather  to  sober 
than  affriiiht  him.  He  irave  the  prisoner  a  look  of 
unspeakable  malice,  and  whii>ping  out  his  sword 
and  calling  for  help  as  clamorously  as  Juan,  he 
assaulted  him  with  the  utmost  fury.  At  the  same 
time,  five  or  six  of  the  guardsmen  rushed  in,  and 
to  Juan's  utter  dismay,  instead  of  aiding  him  to 
secure  the  Alguazil,  rushed  upon  him,  some  with 
their  spears,  to  transfix  him  against  the  wall,  while 
others,  springing  behind  him,  secured  him  in  their 
arms,  and  hurled  him  upon  the  floor.  In  an  instant, 
he  had  lost  both  the  fatal  list  and  the  dagger  of 
Guatimozin,  and  was  at  the  mercy  of  Villafana, 
who  knelt  upon  his  breast,  and  shortened  his 
sword,  to  despatch  him  with  a  thrust.  But  at  the 
very  moment  when  he  had  given  up  all  hope,  and 
was  commending  his  soul  to  his  Maker,  the  savage 
and  exulting  laugh  with  which  the  Alguazil  aimed 
at  his  throat,  was  changed  to  an  exclamation  of 
alarm  and  pain.  Up  started  the  assassin,  and  Juan, 
springing  also  to  his  feet,  he  beheld,  with  surprise, 
the  figure  of  La  Monjonaza  standing  betwixt  him 
and  the  assailants.  The  gray  mantle  had  fallen 
from  her  head  and  shoulders,  revealing  a  form  of 
the  finest  symmetry,  and  a  countenance  convulsed 
into  beauty,  such  as  might  have  become  a  war- 
ring Bellona ;  to  whom  she  might  have  been  well 
compared,  only  that  in  place  of  the  whip  and  torch 
which  a  moralizing  mythology  has  put  into  the 
hands  of  the  goddess,  she  held  an  emblem  equally 
expressive,  in  a  short  dagger,  gleaming  with  blood 
from  the  shoulder  of  Villafana. 

"  Villain !"  she  cried,  after  looking  as  if  she 
would  have  repeated  the  blow,  "  art  thou  not  yet 
requited  I     Begone ! ' ' 


THE  INFIDEL.  219 

And  the  discomfited  traitor,  scowling  and  point- 
ing at  the  blood  trickling  from  his  arm,  and  yet 
obviously  quailing  before  her  stern  frown,  left  the 
prison,  followed  by  the  guards,  who  seemed  even 
more  terrified  than  himself 


220  THE  INFIDEL. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


Juan  stood,  for  a  moment,  confounded  in  the  pre- 
sence of  his  preserver ;  and  Magdalena,  gradually 
exchanging  her  fierce  expression  for  one  more  be- 
coming her  sex,  appeared  at  last,  as  he  had  seen 
her  before,  pale,  saddened,  and  subdued.  As  she 
sank  into  this  softened  temper,  her  eye  fell  upon 
the  crimsoned  blade ;  and  it  was  curious  to  see 
with  what  feminine  horror,  disgust,  and  shame,  she 
cast  it  from  her,  and  to  contrast  this  display  of  un- 
dissembled  feelings  with  her  late  Amazonian  bear- 
ing and  act. 

"  Magdalena,"  said  Juan,  a  thousand  emotions 
at  once  contending  in  his  bosom,  "  you  have  saved 
my  life.  Haste  now  and  protect  that  of  Cortes  :  for, 
be  it  dear  to  thee  or  not,  yet  it  is  not  fitting  he 
should  be  lefl  to  the  knife  of  an  assassin.  Acquaint 
him  fi'om  me — Nay,  bear  it  not  from  me  ;  for  I  will 
not  seem  as  if  I  sought  to  purchase  my  life  with  the 
confession — Acquaint  him  that  a  dreadful  conspira- 
cy, headed  by  the  knave  Villafana,  is  about  to  burst 
upon  his  head.  If  he  seize  not  the  traitor  to-night, 
let  him  beware  who  approaches  the  banquet  to- 
morrow. Above  all,  let  him  be  on  his  guard 
against  any  one  who  affects  to  bring  letters  from 
his  father.  Haste,  maiden,  haste  !  for  perhaps  Vil- 
laflina,  wrought  upon  by  his  fears,  may  discharge 
his  train  of  horrors  this  very  night." 

"  Dost  thou  thus  seek  to  preserve  him  who  has 
so  basely  compassed  thine  own  life  !"  said  Mag- 
dalena, less    with   surprise  than  sorrowing  admi- 


THE  INFIDEL.  221 

ration.  "  Think  not  of  Cortes,  but  of  thyself:  thou 
hast  not  many  hours  for  thought." 

"  Alas,  Magdalena,"  said  Juan,  impatiently,  "  you 
do  not  believe  me.  I  swear  to  you,  that  what  I  say 
is  true :  Villafana  is  a  traitor,  and  is  now  on  the 
point  of  assassinating  the  Captain-General." 

"  If  he  were  about  assassinating  thee,  and  the 
Captain-General  knew  it,  what  aid  wouldst  thou 
expect  from  the  Captain-General  V  rejoined  La 
Monjonaza. 

"  Maiden  !"  said  Juan,  frowning  severely,  "  in 
this  coldness  of  purpose,  now  that  thou  art  ac- 
quainted with  the  act,  thou  art  conniving  at  mur- 
der !" 

Apparently  this  reproof  touched  Magdalena  to 
the  quick.  She  started,  shuddered,  and  turned  as 
if  to  leave  the  prison  ;  but  changing  her  purpose, 
stepping  up  to  the  light,  and  assuming  a  boldness 
which  she  did  not  feel,  she  falteringly  asked, 

"  Is  there  no  case,  in  which  such  connivance 
might  be  excusable  1  But  a  moment  since,"  (and 
here  she  bent  her  head  upon  her  bosom,)  "  I  was 
about  to  commit  murder — Had  I  slain  Villafana, 
wouldst  thou  then  have  thought  the  act  crimi- 
nal ]" 

"  Surely  not,  surely  not,"  said  Juan ;  "  for,  in 
this  case,  thou  wert  arresting  the  blow  of  a  cut- 
throat, to  kill  whom  in  the  act,  were  but  sheer  jus- 
tice, and  according  to  law.  And  yet  I  would  that 
the  blow  had  been  struck  by  another.  It  is  not 
seemly  for  a  woman  to  carry  a  dagger,  and  still 
more  improper  that  she  should  use  it." 

"  What  if  she  be  attacked  by  a  villain,  and  no 
helper  nigh  ?"  demanded  the  forlorn  girl.  "  Heaven 
has  given  me  no  protector — My  father,  my  brother, 
and  my  friend — they  all  lie  in  this  little  steel ;"  and 
as  she  picked  up  the  weapon  from  the  floor,  as  if 
no   longer   ashamed  to   bear  it,  a  ghastly  smile 

19* 


222  THE  INFIDEL. 

beamed  from  lier  visas^e,  like  the  flash  of  a  Medusa 
amid  the  foam  of  a  midnitrht  l)illow." 

"  Speak  no  more  of  Cortes,"  she  continued,  ob- 
serving tiiat  Juan  was  about  to  resume  the  subject 
of  tlie  conspiracy  ;  "  lie  is  far  better  able  to  jn'otect 
himself  than  thou.  Were  there  twenty  poniards  in 
Villafana's  hand,  and  were  his  arm  as  extended  as 
his  malice,  yet  could  he  not  reach  even  to  the  heel 
of  Don  Hernan.  His  fate  is  written, — yes,  more 
inevitably  than  thine ;  for  thou  hast  yet  one  hope 
of  deliverance,  and  Villafana  has  none. — Listen  to 
me,  Juan  Lerma  ;  it  is  perhaps  the  last  time  on 
earth  that  I  shall  speak  to  thee.  If  thou  reject  mine 
offer  this  nii?ht,  I  call  heaven  to  witness  that  I  will 
leave  thee  to  thy  fate." 

"  Ma^rdalena,"  said  Juan,  firmly,  "  we  have  spo- 
ken of  this  ])efore.  God  protect  thee,  for  there  is 
a  wall  of  adamant  between  us." 

"  Be  it  so,"  said  the  lady ;  "  and  let  it  be  higher 
than  thy  wishes,  deeper  than  thy  scorn,  so  thou  wilt 
leave  this  land,  and  return  to  it  no  more." 

"  On  the  morrow,  Magdalena,  I  die,"  said  Lerma, 
with  unabated  resolution.  "  Hear  then  the  coun- 
sel of  a  dying  man,  who  can  yet  call  himself  your 
friend.  Do  what  you  have  recommended  to  me  : 
leave  this  land,  and,  in  the  gloom  of  a  cloister,  ex- 
piate— " 

"  Yet  again  V  exclaimed  the  maiden,  with  an 
eye  of  fire.  "  This  is  to  distract  me  !  Oh,  if  thou 
knew  how  unjustly  thou  hast  planted  daggers  in 
my  bosom — daggers  to  which  tliis  thing  of  steel  is 
but  as  the  thorn  of  a  rosebud — thou  wouldst  kill 
thyself,  rather  than  speak  them  again !  But  it  mat- 
ters not :  whether  thou  livest  or  diest,  still  must 
thou  know  that  I  am  wronged. — Listen  to  me — I 
wull  speak  of  Hilario. — " 

"  Let  it  not  be  so,"  said  Juan  ;  and  then  solemn- 
ly added,  "  Learn  that,  yesternight,  the  wretched 
Villafana,  who,  by  some  magical  science,  seems  ac- 


THE  INFIDEL.  223 

quainted  with  the  secrets  of  all  in  this  camp,  gave 
me  to  know  what  I  did  not  before  dream.  Magda- 
lena,  when  I  plucked  thee  from  the  wreck,  I  dream- 
ed, for  a  moment,  that  I  loved  thee — "  The  maid- 
en trembled  from  head  to  foot,  and  Juan  was  him- 
self greatly  agitated  ;  "  I  beheld  one,  in  whom,  from 
the  act  of  giving  her  a  life,  I  might  fancy  a  tie,  such 
as  did  not  exist  between  me  and  any  other  human 
being,  from  the  time  of  the  death  of  my  poor  father 
up  to  that  happy  hour.  But  had  that  affection 
ripened  even  into  such  as  Hilario  avowed," — (Here 
Magdalena  waved  her  hand  impatiently  ;)  "  nay,  had 
I  plighted  with  thee  faith  and  troth,  and  did  we 
stand  this  moment  before  the  altar,  my  passion 
would  be  at  once  changed  to  awe  and  horror,  to 
know  that  I  was  wedding  the  spouse  of  Heaven. 
Magdalena,  a  life  of  penitence  can  scarcely  remove 
the  sin  of  broken  vows !" 

"  Say  not  this,"  exclaimed  the  unhappy  Magda- 
lena, vehemently :  "  What  knew  I  of  earth  or  hea- 
ven, when,  imprisoned  in  a  cell  from  childoood  up- 
wards, I  gave  up  the  one  for  the  other  1  Heaven 
broke  the  oath  which  oppressors  exacted ;  else, 
wherefore  was  I  saved  of  all  the  sisters,  and  thrown 
upon  a  land  where  cloisters  were  unknown  ?  For 
these  vows  could  I  have  procured  a  dispensation. 
Hast  thou  never  heard  of  such  being  dissolved]" 

"  Surely  I  have,"  said  Juan,  mildly,  desiring  to 
allay  the  agitation  of  his  visitor :  "  It  was  told  to 
me,  by  Villafana,  that  the  senior  Camarga  (an  in- 
sane man,  who  made  an  attempt  on  my  life,)  was 
once  a  monk  of  St.  Dominic  and  an  Inquisitor,  and 
permitted  to  revoke  his  vows  for  some  worldly 
purpose,  I  know  not  what ;  and  I  have  heard  it 
also  said,  that  the  sister  of  Don  Hernan  was  al- 
lowed to  leave  a  nunnery,  to  wed  some  great 
nobleman  of  Andalusia." 

"  It  is  enough,"  said  Magdalena,  calmly,  "  the 
vow  was  suspended,  not  broken ;  it  will  be  resumed, 


224  THE  INFIDKL. 

when  the  purpose  for  which  I  now  Hve,  19  acconv 
plished,  and  would  have  been  before,  but  for  the 
accident  which  brought  me  to  this  land. — Juan 
Lerma,  I  will  not  ask  thee  why  thou  refusest  life 
at  my  hands  :  but  it  is  offered  thee  by  one  wronged 
and  defamed,  not  degraded.  If  thou  live,  it  is  well 
thou  shouldst  know  the  truth,  and  remember  me 
without  contempt ;  if  thou  die,  the  grave  shall  not 
cover  thee  in  ignorance.  Hilario — Start  not,  frown 
not,  tremble  not,  for  the  truth  must  be  spoken — 
Hilario  abused  thy  belief,  that  he  might  break  my 
heart,  and  perhaps,  also,  thine ;  for  he  hated  me, 
because  I  repelled  his  love  with  contempt,  and 
thee,  because  he  knew — because  he  suspected, — 
that  thou  wert  the  cause.  You  fought ;  he  fell, — 
and,  with  what  seemed  his  dying  lips,  (for,  even  in 
death,  his  spite  was  not  diminished,)  repeated  the 
demoniacal  falsehood  ;  boasting  of  the  degradation 
of  one  whose  only  shame  was  that  she  did  not  re- 
quite his  presumption  with  a  dagger !" 

Again  the  figure  of  the  unhappy  girl  was  elevated 
by  passion  into  the  port  of  a  destroying  deity.  But 
she  perceived  that  Juan  was  shocked  by  a  display 
of  fire  so  unwomanly  and,  indeed,  so  fearful ;  and 
this  instantly  transformed  her  into  another  being : 

"  This  too,  thin  too,"  she  cried,  shedding  tears  ofhu- 
miliation,  "  this,  too,  is  a  consequence  of  his  malice, 
for  it  has  converted  me  into  the  thing  I  am  not, — into 
what  seems  a  fury  or  a  demon.  Dost  thou  believe  I 
am — dost  thou  believe  1  was  a  creature  formed  of 
passions,  that  should  belong  only  to  men  ?  No  !  oh 
heav^en,  oh  no!  it  is  the  madness  that  comes  from 
the  viper's  tooth.  Stung,  vilified,  robbed  of  respect 
and  happiness,  how  even  can  a  woman  sit  down  in 
peace,  unless  she  can  diel  unless  she  can  die?  She 
will  have  her  vengeance,  believe  it ;  and  well  is  it 
for  her,  when  it  is  won  by  the  hands  of  a  brother  or 
sire.— Yet,  believe  this,  if  thou  wilt,  for  I  am  not 
what  I  was ;  believe  aught,— anything,   save   the 


THE    INFIDEL.  225 

lies  of  Hilario.  With  his  dying  lips  he  defamed 
me — with  his  dying  hand  he  revoked  the  slander, 
and  avowed  himself  a  villain.  Behold  the  refuta- 
tion of  calmnny." 

As  she  spoke,  she  drew^  from  her  bosom,  with  a 
trembling  grasp,  and  put  into  Juan's,  a  scrap  of 
paper,  on  which  he  read,  with  extreme  surprise,  the 
following  words,  traced  with  a  hand  feeble  and 
agitated,  yet  well  known  to  him, — 

"  What  I  have  said  of  Magdalena  del  Naufragio," 
(or  Magdalena  of  the  Wreck,  for  by  this  name  she 
w^as  known  at  Isabela,)  "  is  false.  In  malice  and 
folly  I  have  laid  perjury  on  my  soul ;  and,  as  I  now 
speak  the  truth,  I  pray  heaven  to  forgive  me. — 
Amen. 

"  Antonio  del  Milagro." 

"  Good  heaven !"  said  Juan,  "  is  it  possible  An- 
tonio could  commit  this  dastardly  crime?  Alas, 
Magdalena,  I  have  done  you  a  grievous  wrong,  and 
I  beseech  you,  pardon  me. — This  thing  w^as  not 
only  wicked,  but  marvellous.  The  paper  is  stained 
with  blood — The  saints  acquit  me  of  his  death,  for 
it  was  I  w^ho  shed  it !  I  am  glad  he  died  penitent 
—-What  brought  him  to  this  justice  1  I  held  my 
dagger  to  his  throat,  yet  he  cried,  with  a  devilish 
malice  and  courage,  '  Strike,  for — '  But  I  will  not 
repeat  his  sinful  and  exulting  falsehoods, — Alas, 
that  his  blood  should  be  upon  my  soul !  the  blood 
of  his  father's  son !" 

Magdalena  surveyed  the  self-accusing  looks  of 
the  prisoner,  wath  much  emotion ;  and  twice  or 
thrice  she  opened  her  lips,  to  give  him  comfort,  or 
to  continue  her  dark  and  singular  story,  and  yet 
failed,  as  many  times,  to  speak.  At  last,  she  clasp- 
ed her  hands  upon  her  bosom,  as  if,  by  an  effort  of 
physical  strength,  to  give  support  and  resolution  to 


226  THE   INFIDEL. 

her  heart,  and  said,  with  low  and  interrupted  ac- 
cents, 

"  Lament  no  more  for  a  sin  thou  hast  not  com- 
mitted. Thou  wert  deceived — Hilario  died  not  by 
thy  hands." 

"  Hah  !"  exclaimed  Juan,  "  dost  thou  tell  me  the 
truth  1  Is  Hilario  yet  living  1  God  be  thanked! 
God  be  thanked  !  for  I  am  not  a  murderer  !" 

He  fell  upon  his  knees,  and  looking  up  to  heaven 
with  joy,  beheld  not  the  grief  and  trepidation  with 
which  his  companion  surveyed  his  rai)tures. 

"  I  told  thee,  not  that  he  lived,  but  that  thou  didst 
not  slay  him,"  said  the  nun,  with  an  effort. — "  Had 
my  father  come  to  my  side,  and  looked  upon  this 
paper,  after  hearing  the  story  of  Hilarious  baseness, 
what  think  you  he  should  have  done  V 

"  Killed  him,  I  must  allow,"  said  Juan,  rising  to 
his  feet ;  "  for  even  his  deep  penitence  could 
scarcely  be  permitted  to  stand  as  the  sole  penalty 
of  such  an  offence. — Alas,  Magdalena,  my  mind  is 
beset  with  sore  misgivings.  How  was  that  paper 
obtained]  How  did  Hilario  die?  Thou  growest 
pale  !   Heaven  shield  me !  didst  thou,  didst  ihou — ?" 

He  paused  with  terror.  The  maiden  replied 
instantly,  and  almost  with  firmness : 

"  Hear  the  truth,  even  to  the  last  syllable ;  for 
even  thy  good  opinion  I  will  not  purchase  by  sub- 
terfuge. To  Villafana, — a  wretch,  whose  manifold 
villanies  thou  couldst  not  dream,  (for  know,  that, 
being  a  sailor  in  the  ship  that  bore  the  unlucky 
sisters,  he  devised  and  accomplished  its  destruction, 
that  he  might  impiously  obtain  the  holy  vessels  of 
silver  and  gold — Ay,  it  was  Villafana,  and  not  the 
tempest,  tliat  drove  us  upon  the  rocks  of  Alonso — ) 
to  Villafana,  from  whom  I  learned  the  cause  of  the 
duel  and  of  thy  flight,  I  committed  the  charge  of 
obtaining  this  recantation. — Was  this  wTongI" 
she  exclaimed,  giving  way  to  affright,  for  Juan's 
looks  of  horror  could  not  be  mistaken :  '•  they  were 


THE  INFIDEL.  227 

two  fiends  together, — the  villain  struck  the  villain, 
—the—" 

"  Murderess  !  murderess  !"  cried  Juan  aloud,  re- 
coiling from  her. 

A  ghastly  smile  passed  over  her  countenance, 
and  it  grew  into  a  faint  laugh,  w^hich,  to  Juan's 
mistaken  eye,  (for  he  thought  it  the  merriment  of 
satisfaction  or  indifference,)  seemed  unnatural  and 
dreadful,  while  she  replied,  her  voice  hysterically 
belying  her  feelings,  as  much  as  did  her  counte- 
nance, 

"  Thou  dost  not  think  I  employed  him  to  do  mur- 
der 1  I  appeal  to  heaven,  I  did  not  dream  he  would 
do  aught  but  compel  the  recantation  from  the 
wounded  man. — What !  bid  him  kill  one  so  de- 
fenceless !  Had  he  been  strong  and  well  armed, 
then  perhaps,  indeed, — then  perhaps,  I  might  have 
thought  it.  I  sought  but  for  the  paper ;  the  rest 
was  the  deed  of  Villafana." 

"  Oh  heaven !  oh  holy  heaven !"  cried  Juan  ; 
"  speak  not  another  word  :  rather  let  me  die  than 
hear  more.  Away  !  avaunt !  thou  art  not  a  wo- 
man, but  a  fiend  !  and  all  is  now  as  it  was,  and 
worse. — What,  blood-stained  !  blood-stained  !" — 

Magdalena  strode  towards  him,  striving  to  speak, 
but  could  only  utter  the  words,  '  Injustice !  injus- 
tice !'  mingled  with  the  charge,  '  Leave  Mexico,' 
that  still  made  a  part  of  her  perturbed  thoughts. 
Had  not  Juan  been  entirely  overwhelmed  by  his 
horror,  he  must  have  observed,  that  her  mind  was, 
at  this  moment,  convulsed  beyond  the  degree  of 
any  former  agitation ;  that  she  was,  in  fact,  in  a 
condition  both  alarming  and  pitiable.  Her  counte- 
nance was  most  deathlike,  her  accents  wholly  un- 
natural, and  there  was  something  of  delirium  or 
idiotcy  in  the  manner  with  which,  while  still  mutter- 
ing the  broken  reproof,  '  Injustice,'  and  the  charge, 
'  Leave  Mexico,'  she,  all  the  while,  extended  the 


228  THE  INFIDEL. 

blood-stained  paper,  as  if  entreating  him  again  to 
receive  and  peruse  it. 

As  it  was,  he  gave  utterance  to  his  horror  in 
the  words, — 

"  Miserable  woman  !  the  denial  forced  from  the 
lips  of  the  murdered  man,  is  of  a  jiiece  with  the 
spirit  that  compelled  it — False,  false,  all  !" 

At  these  words,  the  paper  dropped  from  her 
hands,  another  vacant  smile  distorted  her  visage, 
and  she  turned  to  depart ;  but  before  she  had  taken 
two  steps,  she  tottered,  and  fell  to  the  floor,  with  a 
dreadful  scream,  that  instantly  brought  the  guards 
into  the  prison. 

The  absorbing  nature  of  their  conversation  had, 
for  the  last  two  or  three  moments,  rendered  both 
incapable  of  observing  tliat  some  scene  of  alterca- 
tion had  suddenly  arisen  at  the  dungeon  door. 
High  voices  might  be  heard,  as  of  one  alternately 
entreating  and  demanding  admittance,  which  was 
gruffly  denied  by  others.  The  shriek  of  Magdale- 
na,  ringing  in  their  ears  like  a  cry  of  death,  brought 
the  contention  to  an  end  ;  and  all  rushing  in  toge- 
ther, they  beheld  Juan  endeavouring  to  raise  the 
figure  of  his  unhappy  and  lifeless  guest  from  the 
floor. 

"  Dios  Qnio  !  y  peccavi !  I  will  kill  him  where  he 
stands,"  exclaimed  one,  rushing  forward. 

*'  Not  so  fast,  senor  Camarga,"  cried  the  hunch- 
back, who  was  at  the  head  of  all,  snatching  the 
weapon  from  the  hands  of  this  individual,  who 
seemed  peculiarly  to  thirst  for  the  blood  of  the 
young  islander.  "  Here's  work  for  the  bastinado  ! 
Where's  Villafana,  ye  treacherous  dogs,  that  let 
women  into  the  prison  \  He  shall  pay  for  it. — 
Harkee,  seiior  Camarga ;  if  you  have  any  interest 
in  this  fair  lady,  you  may  help  bear  her  to  the  pa- 
lace. Poor  fool  !  these  women  love  as  arquebuses 
shoot :  if  you  make  them  any  obstruction,  they 


THE  INFIDEL.  229 

burst  in  your  hands — and  this  is  truer  still  of  a 
musket,  if  you  thrust  it  into  the  earth.  In  mine 
own  opinion,  the  young  hound  has  scorned  her." 

While  Najara  gave  vent  to  these  growling  obser- 
vations, Magdalena  was  carried  out  of  the  prison. 
The  hunchback  had  reached  the  door,  before  Juan, 
in  the  confusion  of  the  moment,  thought  of  calling 
him  back,  to  impart  to  him  the  secret  of  the  trea- 
chery. But  Najara  replied  only  with  a  malediction, 
and  departed  with  the  lantern ;  so  that  Juan  was 
again  left  to  night  and  solitude. 


VOL.  I.  20 


23.0  THE   INFIDKL. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


Mkanwiiile,  a  scene  of  still  more  tiai^ical  cha- 
racter was  on  the  point  of  being  represented  with- 
in the  w^alls  of  the  palace. 

It  was  a  tempestuous  niirht.  TIk^  (JDuds,  which 
had  all  day  enveloped  the  pagan  metropolis,  were, 
at  last,  gathered  over  Tezcuco.  The  wind  blew  in 
gusts,  with  frequent  rain  ;  and  as  the  distant  thun- 
derbolts rolled  with  a  rumbling  cadence  over  Mexi- 
co, vast  sheets  of  lightning  shot  up  in  the  west,  illu- 
minating sky,  lake,  and  mountain,  with  a  cadave- 
rous glare. 

Some  five  or  six  of  the  principal  caviiliers  were 
assembled  with  Cortes,  in  the  great  Hall  of  Au- 
dience, engaged  in  earnest  and  anxious  debate.  It 
happened,  by  accident,  that  the  huge  curtain,  which, 
at  night,  was  usually  drawn  over  the  window  of 
alabaster,  had  been,  this  evening,  neglected  by  the 
attendants  ;  so  that  it  remained,  drooping  in  gigan- 
tic festoons  from  the  great  beam,  carved  into  a  ser- 
pent's head,  which  held  it  at  the  top,  down  to  the 
lesser  ornaments  that  supported  it  on  the  sides,  ofthe 
casement.  The  strong  cords,  by  which  it  could  be 
dragged  into  its  place,  hung  over  the  central  beam, 
flapping  occasionally  against  the  alabaster  wall, 
as  the  gust,  puffing  in  through  the  great  door, 
whirled  the  smoke  and  flame  of  the  lamps  and 
torches,  from  the  walls  and  pillars,  to  which  they 
were  attached. 

Thus,  though  tlie  alabaster  slabs  were  too  thick 


THE  INPIDEL.  231 

to  transmit  any  ordinary  ray,  the  brighter  flashes 
of  lightning  made  their  way  through,  and  added, 
at  times,  a  ghastly  glare  to  the  light  of  the  lamps  ; 
in  which  the  countenances  of  the  cavaliers,  per- 
turbed as  they  were,  assumed  such  an  unnatural 
hue  as  might  have  beseemed  the  ghosts  of  dead 
heroes,  rising  to  earth,  to  meddle  again  in  the  sport 
of  slaughter. 

The  visage  of  the  Captain-General  betrayed 
greater  anxiety,  mingled  with  sterner  wrath,  than 
appeared  on  any  other ;  and  when  he  spoke,  it  was 
in  accents  brief  and  low,  and  exceedingly  em- 
phatic. 

*'  I  tell  you,  cavaliers,"  he  cried,  "  the  mystery 
that  shrouds  this  treason  is  more  frightful  than  the 
treason  itself  We  are  at  fault,  seiiores,  we  are  at 
fault.  We  behold  enough  to  show  us  that  the  de- 
vils are  at  work  about  us,  but  not  to  discover  in 
what  mode  they  are  toiling.  It  is  clear  enough  that 
Villafana  is  a  dog,  and  one  day  he  shall  hang ;  but 
I  know  not,  in  what  manner,  nor  at  what  time,  he 
will  bite.  This  is  certain  :  he  has  suffered  one  of 
the  Mexicans  to  leave  his  cell,  and  communi- 
cate with  Xicotencal :  it  is  certain,  also,  that  this 
cur  of  Tlascala  will  leave  the  camp  before  day- 
dawn ;  and  how  many  of  his  warriors  will  follow 
after  him,  that  I  leave  you  to  conjecture.  This 
I  have  from  a  true  mouth.  He  is  incensed,  first, 
on  account  of  Juan  Lerma  ;  and,  secondly,  I  doubt 
not,  the  Mexican  has  made  the  most  of  his  growl- 
ing temper  and  present  discontent.  What  sayst 
thou,  Sandoval?  What  hinders  thee  to  lie  in  wait, 
and,  following  at  his  heels,  so  do  with  him,  that  his 
Tlascalans  who  desert  afterwards,  may  be  frighten- 
ed on  the  path,  and  so  return  to  us  ?  There  are 
good  trees  on  the  wayside  !" 

"  Ay,"  replied  Don  Gonzalo,  grimly,  "  when  there 
is  any  executioner's  work  towards,  I  am  sure  to 
play  jack-ketch.     I  am  loath  to  deal  with  a  man 


232  THE  INFIDEL. 

that  hath  been  so  valiant ;  but  if  he  be  a  traitor,  it 
is  right  he  should  die.  What  if  I  give  him  the  bas- 
tinado, Turk-wise?  Methinks  that  would  bring  him 
into  a  sounder  temper." 

It  would  but  inflame  the  choler  of  his  proud 
people,"  said  the  shrewder  general ;  "  whereas  his 
sudden  death,  dealt  upon  him  in  the  act  of  deser- 
tion, will  strike  them  with  fear.  Take  thou  a  rope 
with  thee,  my  son,  and  fear  not  to  use  it." 

The  young  cavaUer  nodded  assent ;  and  the  ge- 
neral went  on  : 

"  Concerning  the  ambassadors,  thus  secretly 
treating  with  a  traitor,  methinks  they  have  forfeited 
all  claim  to  protection  1" 

"  Ay,"  said  Alvarado ;  "  and  the  bastinado,  of 
which  Sandoval  spake,  may  serve  the  good  pur- 
pose of  opening  their  lips,  and  thereby  revealing, 
not  only  the  depth  of  the  Tlascalan  defection,  but 
the  length  to  which  Villafana  and  his  curs  have 
gone  with  them.  Let  us  send  for  them,  and  try  the 
experiment.  Or  stay — here  are  cords  enough  on 
the  curtain.  One  of  these,  twisted  round  the  brow 
with  a  sword-hilt,  I  have  known  to  bring  out  a 
man's  tongue  as  far  as  his  eyes." 

The  cavaliers  turned  to  the  window;  and  the 
bitter  smile  of  the  Captain-General  was  made  death- 
like, by  a  flash,  brighter  than  usual,  shooting 
through  the  wall. 

"  A  good  thought,"  he  said ;  "  but  we  will  not 
be  precipitate.  We  have  them  secured  ;  and  how- 
ever Villafana  may  permit  them  to  speak  with 
others,  he  is  somewhat  too  wise  to  set  them  free. 
We  will  have  this  thing  considered  in  the  morn- 
ing." 

At  this  moment,  Don  Francisco  de  Guzman 
made  his  appearance  in  the  chamber,  his  visage 
disfigured  by  a  black  patch,  and  somewhat  pale. 
But  this,  as  it  was  soon  discovered,  was  caused 
rather  by  care  than  sickness. 


THE  INFIDEL.  233 

"  Sefior,"  he  exclaimed,  "  I  have  been  to  seek  the 
ambassadors — They  have  escaped  !" 

*' Escaped !"  echoed  Cortes.  "Thou  art  beside 
thyself!  And  the  villain  Alguazil,  has  he  fled  with 
them  ?  I  will  tear  his  flesh  with  pincers  !  What !  re- 
lease the  infldels,  under  my  eye  .'" 

"  So  please  you,"  said  Guzman,  "  this,  I  think, 
was  no  resolved  treachery,  but  an  effect  of  infatua- 
tion. The  wine  that  came  to  us  to-day,  was  too 
strong  for  the  watchmen :  where  they  got  it,  I 
know  not ;  but  I  found  them  sound  asleep  at  the 
open  door." 

"  They  shall  be  scourged,  till  they  drop  more 
blood  than  they  have  drunk  wine,"  said  Don  Her- 
nan,  furiously.  "  And  the  prison-guards  also  !  Hah  ] 
The  prisoner  has  escaped  ?" 

"  Not  so,"  said  the  cavalier :  "  all's  well  there, 
save — " 

-'*  And  Villafana  1  Speak  me  the  word — Has  he 
fled  ]" 

"  Seiior  mio,  no  :  he  is  in  the  prison,  carousing 
with  Juan  Lerma,  as  the  guards  say.  I  heard  his 
voice  through  the  door." 

"  Carousing  ]  does  Juan  Lerma  take  his  death  so 
merrily  ]  By'r  lady,  devil  as  he  is,  it  is  a  sin  to  slay 
him !" 

^*  As  to  the  prisoner,"  said  Guzman,  "  I  know  not 
whether  he  be  merry  or  not ;  but  I  myself  (for  I 
had  mine  ear  to  the  door,)  heard  Villafana  smack 
his  lips,  and  vow  he  '  would  drink  no  more,  this 
being  no  time  to  be  thick-witted.'  But  every  one 
knows  Villafana :  his  bibbing  once  brought  him  to 
the  strappado." 

"  Ay  ;  and  it  shall  bring  him  to  the  gallows. — It 
is  the  fate  of  the  can-clinker — all  spoken  in  three 
words — drunk,  whipped,  and  gibbeted  ! — Didst 
thou  worm  naught  from  the  guards  1  They  were  of 
his  own  appointing." 

"  Not  a  syllable,"  replied  Guzman  :  "  I  do  believe 
20* 


234  THE  INFIDEL. 

they  linvo  been  too  mucli  frightened,  and  are  now 
penitent  men." 

"  It  may  be,"  said  Cortes,  "  it  may  be ;  but  I 
would  I  could  look  into  the  dreams  of  Villafana.  If 
I  punish  him  for  the  flight  of  the  ambassadors,  it 
may  be  that  I  disperse  an  imposthume  before  it 
comes  to  a  head ;  or  it  may  prove,  that  I  drive  the 
matter  into  tlie  more  vital  organs  of  this  body  poli- 
tic, till  all  be  corrupted  and  consumed.  What  say 
ye  to  a  little  torture  inflicted  on  Villafana  himself? 
Yet  he  is  a  bold  dog,  and  may  not  speak.  They 
say  he  winced  not  under  the  lash.  I  swear  to  you, 
my  fi  lends,  I  am  in  a  strait." 

While  Cortes  thus  admitted  the  difficulty  in 
which  he  felt  himself  pressed,  and  the  cavaliers 
were  divided  in  their  counsels,  they  perceived  a 
common  soldier  intrude  himself  into  the  chamber, 
and  boldly  approach  them. 

"  Hah  !"  cried  Alvarado,  ever  hot  of  temper, 
"  who  art  thou,  Sir  Gallows-bird,  that  bringest  thy 
knave's  pate  among  cavaliers  in  council  ]" 

"  Hold !  touch  him  not ;  'tis  the  Barba-Roxa  !" 
exclaimed  Don  Hernan.  "  What  impertinence  is 
this,  sirrah  ?  Who  bade  thee  hitherward  V 

"  God  and  my  good  saint,"  said  Gaspar,  flinging 
himself  on  his  knees,  and  adding,  with  the  greatest 
impetuosity,  "  Pardon,  senor  !  pardon  for  two  un- 
happy men  !  Or  if  that  cannot  be,  why  pardon  then 
for  one  ;  and  I  care  not  how  soon  you  hang  up  the 
others." 

"  What  means  the  fool  1   Art  thou  distracted?" 

"  Seiior  !"  cried  the  soldier,  wringing  his  hands, 
"  I  am  a  knave  and  traitor.  Grant  me  the  life  of 
Juan  Lerma,  who  meant  you  no  wrong,  and  I  will 
give  you,  for  the  rope  and  sword,  two  hundred  and 
forty  such  traitors  as  the  world  never  saw,  and 
myself  among  them ;  for  I  have  signed  my  name 
with  knife  and  arrow,  and  sworn  myself  to  brother- 


THE  INFIDEL.  235 

hood,  under  the  pains  of  hell,  which  I  care  not  how 
soon  may  came  upon  me." 

"  Let  some  one  of  you  look  to  the  door,"  said 
Cortes,  quickly :  "  and  see  that  the  sentinels  keep 
their  eyes  open. — How  now,  Gaspar  !  what  is  this 
thou  sayst  ]  Art  thou  indeed  a  villain  1  I  should 
have  struck  on  the  mouth  any  soldier  that  had  said 
it  of  thee." 

"  I  am  what  I  said,"  replied  Gaspar ;  "  your 
excellency  refused  to  listen  to  me,  when  I  pleaded 
for  Juan  Lerma  ;  and  I  was  incensed.  I  said  to  my- 
self, senor,  '  I  have  saved  your  life,  and  yet  you 
deny  me  the  life  of  my  friend,  who,  in  ignorance, 
broke  a  decree,  yet  knew  no  malice.'  Besides,  se- 
ll or,  you  called  me  a  dog, — '  an  officious,  presum- 
ing dog;'  whereas  I  was  not  a  dog  then,  but  now. 
Well,  senor,  while  I  was  in  a  passion,  the  devil 
came  to  me,  and  tempted  me,  and  I  signed  my 
name  to  my  perdition." 

"  What !"  said  Alvarado,  recoiling  with  devout 
horror,  "  hast  thou  really  signed  over  thy  soul  to 
Satan  1  We  will  burn  thee,  thou  devil's  penitent,  in 
a  hot  fire !" 

"  Speak  on,"  said  Cortes.  "  What  meanest  thou 
by  this  mummery  ?  What  devil  is  this  ]  for,  though 
Satan  be  walking  now  among  us,  yet,  I  think,  it 
could  not  be  he." 

"  It  was  Villafana,"  replied  Gaspar ;  "  and  heaven 
pardon  me,  for  I  think  it  must  be  Apollyon  in  his 
likeness  !" 

At  this  communication,  the  cavaliers  all  stared  at 
one  another,  and  Cortes  exclaimed, 

"  Two  hundred  and  forty  men  !  What !  are  there 
so  many  knaves  of  his  party  ?" 

"  Ay,  and  many  more,  who  will  help,  but  will  not 
put  down  their  names  upon  paper,"  replied  Gaspar. 
"  But  your  excellency  says  nothing  of  Juan  Lerma. 
If  you  will  pardon  him,  your  excellency  shall  hear 
all." 


230  THE  INPIDEL. 

"  How,  sirrali !"  rriod  Cortos,  sternly,  "  Do  you 
avow  yourself  a  sworn  traitor,  and  yet  dictate  to 
me  terms  of  n>ercy  ?  Sjx^ak,  or  you  shall  have  that 
to  your  brows,  which  will  brinir  out  words  with 
screams." 

Gaspar  spniiiLr  l<>  his  feet, — boklly,  fearlessly, 
and  even  insolently,  returning  the  look  of  the  Cap- 
tain-General : 

"  Your  excellency  li;i«  no  heart,  and  1  have," 
he  cried.  "  Do  your  will  upon  us  both;  and  reckon 
my  death  to  your  conscience,  as  you  do  that  of 
Juan  Lerma.  You  shall  not  have  a  word  more. 
Here  are  my  arms. — What  cavalier  will  demean 
himself  to  ti(^  them  ?  I  will  meet  your  excellency  at 
the  jiidixinont-seat." 

"  Thou  art  but  a  fool,"  said  Cortes,  moderating 
his  anger, — or,  at  least,  mollifying  the  severity  of 
his  accents ;  for  his  countenance  yet  gleamed  with 
wrath.  "  Thou  knowest,  that,  having  saved  my 
life  at  Xochimilco,  I  can,  in  no  case,  take  thine." 

"  But  I  leave  that  to  the  laws,  with(mt  asking  any 
mercy,"  said  the  Red  Beard,  obstinately  :  "  1  ask 
the  life  of  Juan  Lerma,  condemned  without  law." 

"  Dost  thou  impugn  my  justice,  fellow  V  cried 
the  ferocious  De  Olid.  "  I  swear  to  thee,  when 
thou  art  brought  to  be  judged,  1  will  give  thee  a 
double  quantity,  for  this  very  reason." 

While  the  cavalier  gave  utterance  to  so  excellent 
a  proof  of  his  equity,  Alvarado,  with  whom  Gaspar 
had  been  a  favourite,  whispered  in  his  ear, 

"  Rpeak  out,  and  fear  not.  It  stands  not  with 
the  captain's  Iwnour  to  barti^r  men's  lives  for 
knave's  confessions  ;  yet  he  shall  pardon  the  young 
man,  thy  friend,  as  I  am  thy  guarantee." 

"  Wiiat  say  ye,  cavaliers  !"  cried  Cortes  :  "  does 
it  become  me,  to  remit  a  sentence  of  death,  at  such 
mutinous  intercession  ?" 

Before  any  of  the  officers  could  reply,  Gaspar, 


THE  INPIDEL.  237 

confiding  in  the  promise  of  Alvarado,  threw  himself 
again  at  the  general's  feet,  crying, 

"  Seiior,  I  am  not  a  mutineer,  but  a  penitent.  I 
am  mad  to  think  that  one, — so  good  a  friend,  so 
valiant  a  soldier,  so  true  a  follower,  (for  there  is  no 
falsehood  in  Juan  Lerma,)  should  die  for  a  small 
matter, — saving  Don  Francisco's  presence, — when 
there  are  so  many  rogues  about  us,  that  go  unpun- 
ished. But  I  leave  him  to  your  excellency's  mercy, 
trusting  that  your  excellency  will  reconsider  the 
judgment,  and  release  him.  Therefore  I  will  speak, 
in  this  trust ;  and  I  pray  heaven  to  remember  the 
act,  be  it  merciful  or  be  it  cruel. — This  is  what  I 
have  to  say  :  In  my  passion,  I  betook  me  to  Villa- 
fana ;  who,  promising  to  save  Lerma' s  life,  I  signed 
with  him  ;  though  the  first  act  of  guilt  was  to  take 
your  excellency's  life.  Holy  mother  of  heaven ! 
pardon  jne ;  but  I  was  very  much  incensed.  Well, 
seiior,  I  found  on  the  paper  the  names  of  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  men,  and  I  will  tell  you  such  as  I 
remember ;  but  if  you  will  send  to  the  prison,  and 
suddenly  seize  the  Alguazil,  you  will  find  the  list 
in  his  bosom. — " 

"  Q,uinones,  see  thou  to  this,"  said  Cortes,  turn- 
ing to  the  master  of  the  armory,  who  made  one 
of  the  council.  "  Take  with  thee  none  but  hidal- 
gos, and  be  sudden,  making  no  noise  and  shedding 
no  blood — Yet  stay:  this  will  not  do,  neither. 
Hark  thee,  Gaspar,  man,  when  shall  this  precious 
earthquake  rumble  into  the  upper  airl" 

"  To-morrow,"  replied  the  soldier ;  and  then,  to 
the  horror  and  astonishment  of  all  present,  he 
divulged  the  whole  scheme  of  assassination,  as 
Villafana  had  himself  spoken  it  in  the  prison. 

"  With  a  letter  from  my  father,  too '."  cried 
Cortes,  apparently  more  struck  with  the  heartless 
barbarity  of  tlie  stratagem,  than  with  anything 
else  in  Caspar's  communication :  "  This  is  indeed 


238  THE  INFIDEL. 

the  Judas-kiss,  tho — FaiiL^li  !  tlioso  wore  tlio  words 
of  Mairdalena !" 

While  he  muttered  tliese  words  to  himself,  he 
was  roused  by  a  sudden  voice  at  the  great  door, 
and  heard  distinctly  the  unexpected  voice  of  Villa- 
fana,  sayincr,  as  he  wran<rled  with  the  «xuards, 

"  Oh,  'slid,  you  take  upon  you  too  much.  I  come 
at  the  order  of  the  o-eneral." 

"Admit  Villafana,"  said  Cortes,  in  tones  that  pene- 
trated loudly  to  the  farthest  limits  of  the  room,  for 
the  cavaliers  were  stricken  into  a  bodinfi  silence 
at  the  accents  of  the  Alscuazil :  "  Admit  my  trusty 
Villafana."     And  Villafana  entered. 

lie  was  evidently  flushed  with  wine,  and  it  was 
for  that  reason,  doubtless,  that  he  tlid  not  seem  to 
observe  the  presence  of  his  forsworn  associate,  nor 
the  suspicious  act  of  two  cavaliers,  who  stole  from 
the  fjroup,  and  took  possession  of  the  floor  by  which 
he  had  entered.  He  approached  with  a  reckless 
and  confident,  though  somewhat  stupid,  air,  ex- 
claiming, after  divers  humble  scrapes  and  salaams, 

"  I  come  at  your  excellency's  bidding,  according 
to  appointment.  This  was  the  hour,  please  your 
excellency — But  'tis  a  scurvy  night,  with  nmch 
thunder  and  lightning." 

"  Ay,  truly,"  said  Cortes,  with  a  mild  voice,  while 
all  the  rest  stood  in  the  silence  of  death ;  "  but, 
being  so  observant,  Villafana,  how  comes  it  you 
have  not  remarked  that  you  are  here  without  the 
Indian  Techeechee,  whom  I  commanded  you  to 
bring  hither  at  this  hour]" 

"  Seiior,"  said  the  Alguazil,  a  little  confused, 
"  that  old  Ottomi  is  a  sly  dog,  and,  I  doubt  me,  not 
over-honest." 

"  I  doubt  me  so,  too,"  said  Cortes,  in  the  same 
encouraging  tones ;  "  yet,  honest  or  false,  sly  or 
simple,  methinks  thou  shouldst  not  have  sutiered 
him  to  escape." 

"Escape!  what,  Techeechee  escape!"   cried  Vil- 


THE  INFIDEL.  239 

lafana  with  unaffected  surprise :  "  Ho,  no  !  I  did 
but  giv  e  the  gray  infidel  a  sop  of  wine,  and  straight- 
way he  hid  himself  in  a  corner,  to  sleep  off  his 
drunkenness.  And, — and, — "  continued  he,  with 
instinctive  though  clumsy  cunning, — '*  and  I  thought 
it  would  be  unbeseemly  to  bring  him  to  your  ex- 
cellency, in  that  condition.  I  beg  your  excellency's 
pardon  for  making  him  acquainted  with  such  Chris- 
tian liquor ;  but  it  w^as  out  of  pity,  together  with 
some  little  hope  of  converting  him  to  the  faith ;  and, 
besides,  I  knew  not  his  head  was  so  weak.  I  will 
fetch  him  to  your  excellency  in  the  morning." 

"  Why,  this  is  well,"  said  the  Captain-General, 
with  such  insinuating  gentleness  as  characterizes 
the  snake,  when  closing  softly  on  his  prey  ;  "  and 
I  doubt  not  thou  canst  give  me  as  good  an  account 
of  the  ambassadors.  It  is  said  to  me,  that  they  also 
have  escaped."' 

"  Good  God  !"  cried  Villafana,  startled  not  only 
out  of  his  confidence,  but,  in  great  measure,  out  of 
his  intoxication,  by  such  an  announcement ;  "  the 
ambassadors  escaped  !     It  cannot  be  !" 

"  Pho,  they  have  hurt  thee  more  than  I  thought, 
— even  to  the  point  of  destroying  thy  memory," 
rejoined  the  Captain-General,  with  the  blandishment 
of  a  smile.  "  There  is  blood  upon  thy  shoulder:  I 
doubt  not,  thou  w^ert  severely  hurt,  while  attempt- 
ing to  prevent  their  flight.  No  one  ever  questioned 
the  courage  of  Villafana." 

"  Yes,  seiior,  yes — no — yes  ;  that  is, — I  mean  to 
say — Saints  of  heaven  !" — And  here  the  Alguazil 
paused,  completely  sobered, — that  is,  restored  to 
his  senses,  but  not  to  his  wits  ;  for  he  perceived 
himself  in  a  difficulty,  and  his  invention  pointed  out 
no  means  of  escape.  He  rolled  his  eyes,  haggard 
at  once  with  debauch  and  alarm,  over  the  cavaliers, 
and,  though  the  lofty  figure  of  Alvarado  concealed 
Gaspar  from  his  view,  he  beheld  enough  in  the  ex- 
traordinary sedateness  of  all  present,  to  fill  him 


240  THE  INFIDEL. 

■with  the  most  racking  suspicions.  He  turned  again 
to  Cortes,  and  commanding  his  fears  as  much  as 
he  could,  went  on,  with  an  appearance  of  bold- 
ness, 

"  Alas,  noble  senor,  if  the  ambassadors  be  es- 
caped, I  am  a  lost  man, — for  I  trusted  too  much  to 
the  vigilance  of  others,  and  I  should  not  have  done 
so.  Alas,  seiior,"  he  continued  with  more  energy, 
as  his  mind  began  to  work  more  clearly,  "  I  have 
committed  a  great  offence  in  this  negligence ;  but  I 
vow  to  heaven,  it  was  owing  to  my  fears  of  Juan 
Lerma,  who  made  many  efforts  to  escape,  and  had 
strong  friends  to  help  him.  Your  excellency  may 
see  the  necessity  I  was  under,  to  give  all  my 
thoughts  to  him  ;  for,  some  one  having  furnished 
him  with  a  dagger,  he  foully  attacked  me,  not  on 
my  guard,  giving  me  this  wound ;  and  had  it  not 
been  for  the  sudden  rushing  in  of  the  guard,  I  should 
certainly  have  been  killed." 

Thus  spoke  the  Alguazil,  with  returning  craft, 
mingling  together  fiction  and  fact  with  an  address 
which  astonished  even  himself: 

*'  Yes,  seiTor,"  he  continued,  satisfied  with  the 
strength  of  his  argument,  and  now  elated  with  a 
prospect  of  providing  against  the  effects  of  his  im- 
prudent disclosures  in  the  prison ;  "  yes,  senor, 
and  the  young  man,  besides  thus  wounding  me, 
swore  he  would  have  me  hanged  for  a  conspiracy ; 
stating  roundly,  as  the  guards  will  witness,  (I  am 
certain  that  Esteban,  the  Left-Handed,  heard  him,) 
that,  being  a  notorious  grumbler,  any  such  fiction 
would  be  believed  of  me.  As  if  tliis  would  make 
me  a  conspirator !  whereas,  your  excellency  knows, 
according  to  the  proverb.  Barking  dogs  are  no 
biters."  And  the  audacious  ruffian,  relapsing  into 
security,  attested  his  innocence  by  a  gentle  laugh 
and  the  sweetest  of  his  smiles. 

"  Again  I  say,  thou  speakest  well,"  said  Cortes, 
carelessly  descending  from  the  platform,  on  which 


THE  INFIDEL.  241 

he  had  mounted  at  the  approach  of  Villafana. 
"  Thine  arguments  have  even  satisfied  me  of  the 
folly  of  certain  charges,  brought  against  thee  by 
this  mad  fellow,  here,  at  thy  elbow." 

As  he  spoke,  Alvarado,  taking  his  instructions 
rather  from  a  consentaneous  feeling  of  propriety 
than  from  any  hint  of  Don  Hernan's,  moved  aside, 
and  Villafana' s  eyes  fell  upon  the  figure  of  Gas- 
par. 

"  Think  of  it,  good  fellow,"  said  Cortes,  laying 
his  hand  upon  Villafana's  shoulder,  as  if  to  support 
himself  a  little ;  "  the  things  he  said  of  thee  are  in- 
numerable, and  excessively  preposterous.  He 
averred,  for  instance,  that  thou  wert  peevishly  of- 
fended, because  I  had  not  invited  thy  presence  to 
the  festivities  of  the  morning  banquet,  and  wert  re- 
solved to  come,  whether  I  would  or  not,  and  that 
with  a  letter  from  my  father  in  one  hand,  and  a 
dagger  in  the  other.  Eh!  is  not  this  outrageous? 
He  said,  besides, — But,  o'  my  life,  thou  hast  bled 
too  much  from  this  wound  !  Juan  Lerma  strikes 
deep,  when  the  fit  is  on  him.  I  hope  thou  art  not 
faint,  man]" 

To  these  benevolent  expressions,  the  Alguazil 
replied  by  turning  upon  the  general  a  countenance 
so  bloodless,  and  an  eye  filled  with  such  ecstacy 
of  despair,  (for  if  the  poniards  of  all  had  been  at  his 
throat,  he  could  not  have  been  more  perfectly  ap- 
prized of  his  coming  fate,)  that  Cortes  must  have 
been  struck  with  some  feeling  of  commiseration, 
had  not  his  nature  been  somewhat  akin  to  that  of 
a  cat,  which  delights  less  to  kill  than  to  sport  with 
the  agonies  of  a  dying  victim.  As  it  was,  he  con- 
tinued to  torment  the  abandoned  wretch,  by  add- 
ing, pleasantly, 

"  And  what  thinkest  thou  of  this,  too,  my  Villafa- 
na 1  Two  hundred  and  forty  conspirators,  to  rush 
in  when  the  blow  was  struck  ! — doubtless  to  carve 
their  dinners  from  the  ribs  of  my  cavaliers  ! — Ah, 

VOL.  1.  21 


242  THE  INFIDEL. 

Villafana,  Villafana !  thou  shouldst  have  a  care  of 
thy  friends.  Our  enemies  are  harmless,  but  our 
friends  are  always  danixerous. — What  dost  thou 
say  to  all  this,  Villafana  ? — Knave  !  hadst  thou 
twenty  dasrjrers  in  thy  jerkin,  thou  wert  still  but 
an  unfan^ed  reptile  !" 

While  he  spoke,  in  this  jestful  mood,  he  was  sen- 
sible that  Villafiina,  (doubtless  with  an  instinctive 
motion,  of  which  he  was  himself  unconscious,  be- 
ing apparently  turned  to  stone,)  was  stealing  his 
hand  up  towards  his  bosom,  as  if  to  grasp  a  wea- 
pon. The  moment  the  member  had  reached  the 
opening  of  his  garment,  Cortes  caught  him  by  the 
throat,  and  giving  utterance  to  his  last  words  with 
a  voice  of  thunder,  and  employing  a  strength  irre- 
sistible by  such  a  man  as  Villafana,  he  hurled  him 
to  the  floor,  at  the  same  instant  placing  his  foot  on 
his  throat.  Then  stooping  down,  and  thrusting  his 
hand  into  the  traitor's  bosom,  he  jilucked  out,  at  a 
single  grasp,  a  poniard,  a  letter,  and  the  fatal  list 
of  conspirators.  He  pushed  the  first  aside,  read 
the  superscription  of  the  second  with  a  laugh,  and 
casting  his  eye  upon  the  third,  devoured  its  con- 
tents with  an  avidity  that  left  him  unconscious  of 
the  murmurs  of  the  fierce  cavaliers,  and  the  groans 
of  the  wretched  Alguazil,  strangling  under  his 
foot. 

"  What,  seiior  !  will  you  rob  the  gallows  of  its 
prey  ]"  cried  Alvarado,  pointing  his  sword  at  the 
prostrate  traitor,  as,  indeed,  did  all  the  rest,  (hav- 
ing drawn  them  at  the  moment  when  Cortes  seized 
him  by  the  throat :)  "  His  crime  is  manifest  to  all : 
what  need  of  trial  ?  Every  man  his  steel  through 
the  dog !" 

"  Hold  !"  cried  the  Captain-General  ;  "  this  were 
a  death  for  an  hidalgo.  Up,  cur  !  up,  and  meet  thy 
fate  !  Up  !"  And  he  spurned  the  wretch  with  his 
foot. 

The  Alguazil  rose  up,  his  face  black  with  blood, 


THE  INFIDEL.  243 

which,  not  perfectly  disj^ersing  even  at  release  from 
strangulation,  remained  in  leopard-like  blotches 
over  his  visage,  ghastfully  contrasted  with  the  ashy 
hues  that  gathered  between  them.  As  he  rose,  his 
arms  were  seized  by  two  or  three  cavaliers ;  and 
Sandoval,  as  quick  in  action  as  he  was  sluggish 
in  speech,  snatching  the  rich  sword-sash  of  samite 
from  his  own  shoulders,  instantly  secured  them  be- 
hind his  back. 

"  For  the  love  of  God,  senores  !"  cried  Villafana, 
finding  speech  at  last,  "  what  do  you  mean  1  what 
do  you  design  1  You  will  not  kill  an  innocent  man  ] 
Will  you  judge  me  at  the  charge  of  a  liar  1  Gaspar 
is  my  sworn  foe.  I  will  make  all  clear. — Senor,  I 
have  been  drinking,  and  my  mind  is  confused: 
take  me  not  at  this  disadvantage.  Oh,  for  God's 
sake,  what  do  you  mean  ] — The  list  1  what,  the  list  ? 
'Tis  for  a  merry-making — a  rejoicing  for  my  birth- 
day. I  will  explain  all  to  your  excellencies. — I  am 
an  innocent  man. — Gaspar  is  a  forsworn  caitiff— ^a 
caitiff,  seiiores,  a  caitiff! — I  claim  trial  by  the  civil 
judges." — 

"  Gag  him,"  cried  one. 

"  Strike  him  on  the  mouth,"  said  another.  And 
Villafana,  gasping  for  breath,  uttered,  for  a  moment, 
nothing  but  inarticulate  murmurs. 

"  De  Olid,  Marin,  De  Ircio,"  cried  Cortes,  rapid- 
ly, and  with  inexpressible  decision,  "  ye  are  judges 
of  life  and  death ;  Sandoval  and  Alvarado,  by  right 
of  office,  ye  can  sit  in  judgment ;  Quinones,  Guz- 
man, and  the  rest,  I  make  you,  in  the  king's  name, 
special  associates  of  the  others. — Why,  here  is  a 
court,  not  martial,  but  civil ;  and  the  dog  shall  have 
judgment  to  his  content !  He  stands  charged  of 
treason. — Guilty,  seiiores  1  or  not  guilty  1" 

"  Guilty  !"  cried  all  with  one  voice :  and  De  Olid 
added,  "  Let  us  take  him  into  the  garden,  and  hang 
him  to  the  cedar-tree." 

"  To  the  window,"  said  Cortes,  pointing  with  his 


244  THE  mriDEL. 

sword  to  the  stout  cords,  lianging  so  invitingly 
from  the  serpent's-head  ;  and  in  an  instant  the  vic- 
tim was  dragged  upon  tlie  platform. 

Up  to  this  moment,  his  (bars  had  been  uttered 
rather  in  vehement  complaints  than  in  outcries ; 
but  now,  when  he  perceived  that  he  was  condemn- 
ed by  a  mockery  of  trial,  doomed  without  tlie  re- 
spite of  a  minute's  space  to  pray,  the  rope  dangling 
before  his  eyes,  and  already  in  the  hands  of  a  cava- 
lier, who  was  bending  it  into  a  noose,  he  uttered  a 
piercing  scream,  and  endeavoured  to  throw  himself 
on  his  knees. 

"  Mercy !"  he  cried,  "  mercy  !  mercy !  I  will 
confess — I  can  save  all  your  lives — Mercy ! 
mercy !" 

Of  all  the  sights  of  horror  and  disgust,  villany, 
transformed  at  the  death-hour,  into  its  natural  cha- 
racter and  original  of  cowardice,  is  among  the  most 
appalling.  Villafana  was  as  brave  as  a  ruffian  could 
be ;  but  when  imagination  is  linked  in  the  same 
spirit  with  vice,  courage  expires  almost  at  the  same 
moment  with  hope.  With  a  weapon  in  his  hand, 
and  that  at  liberty,  Villafana,  perhaps,  would  have 
manifested  all  the  valour  in  which  despair  perceives 
the  only  hope,  and  died  like  a  man.  As  it  was, 
bound  and  grasped  in  the  arms  of  strong  men, 
entirely  helpless  and  equally  without  hope,  his  death 
staring  him  in  the  face,  he  gave  himself  up  at  once 
to  unmanly  fears,  and  wept,  screamed,  and  prayed, 
until  the  guards,  at  watch  in  the  vestibule,  sank 
upon  their  knees  and  conned  over  their  beads,  to 
divert  their  senses  from  cries  so  agonized  and  so 
horrible. 

As  he  strove  to  prostrate  himself  before  his  in- 
exorable judges,  he  was  pulled  up  by  the  cavaliers, 
and  among  others  by  Don  Francisco  de  Guzman, 
whose  countenance  he  recognized. 

"  Save  me,  Guzman  !  save  me  !"  he  cried  ;  "  for 
thou  wert  once  of  the  party — Save  me  !" 


TBE  INPIDEL.  245 

"  Peace,  wolf — " 

"  Mercy !  mercy  !  noble  seiior !"  he  continued, 
turning  to  Cortes  :  "  I  am  but  one  of  many.  Guz- 
man is  as  false  as  I ;  I  charge  him  with  treason  : 
he  has  abused  your  excellency's  ear  '.—-Listen, 
senores,  and  spare  me  my  life :  give  me  a  day — 
give  me  but  to-night,  to  pray  and  confess,  and  you 
shall  have  all.  There  are  cavaliers  among  us — 
Mere)'',  for  the  love  of  heaven! — Camarga,  the  Do 
minican, — Don  Palmerino  de  Castro, — Muertazo  of 
Toledo,  Carabo  of  Seville, — Artiaga,  Santa-Rosa, 
Bravo,  Aljaraz,  and  an  hundred  more — " 

*'  Peace,  lying  villain  !"  cried  the  Captain-Gene- 
ral— "  What  ho,  the  rope !  quick,  the  rope  !" 

"  A  moment  to  repent !  a  moment  to  repent '." 
shrieked  the  victim,  struggling  so  violently  to  bring 
his  hands  before  him,  as  if  to  clasp  them  in  prayer, 
that  the  silken  band  crackled  behind  him,  and  his 
hands  turned  black  with  congested  blood ;  "a  mo- 
ment to  repent !  for  I  am  a  sinner.  What !  would 
you  condemn  my  soul,  too  1  Saints,  hear  me ! 
angels,  plead  for  me !  A  priest,  for  the  love  of 
heaven  !  I  killed  Artiaga  of  Cadiz  ;  I  scuttled  the 
ship  at  Alonso,  drowned  the  nuns,  and  stole  the 
church-plate — Call  Magdalena — Where's  Magda- 
lena  ? — You  are  murdering  me  !  Mercy !  mercy  ! 
I  killed  Hilario,  too — I  poniarded  him  in  the  old 
wounds,  inflicted  by  Juan  Lerma — I  have  much  to 
repent — A  priest,  for  the  love  of  God  !  A  priest, 
oh,  a  priest !" 

Thus  raved  the  villain,  stained  with  a  thousand 
crimes  ;  and  if  aught  had  been  wanting  to  steel  the 
hearts  of  his  executioners,  enough  was  divulged  in 
the  unavailing  abandonment  with  which  he  accused 
himself  of  misdeeds,  so  many  and  so  atrocious. 
While  his  neck  was  yet  free  from  the  rope,  he 
struggled  violently,  but  without  any  attempt  to  do 
a  mischief  to  his  unrelenting  murderers ;  his  re- 
sistance was,  indeed,  like  that  of  a  cur,  under  the 

21  * 


246  THE   INFIDEL. 

chastisement  of  a  cruel  and  brutal  master,  which 
howls  and  contends,  and  yet  fears  to  employ  its 
fangs  against  the  tyrant.  But  when  he  found,  at 
last,  that  the  cavaliers  were  actually  putting  the 
hasty  halter  about  his  neck,  his  struggles  were  not 
greater  to  escape  than  to  inflict  injury.  He  shook 
and  tossed  his  head  in  distraction,  and  Don  Fran- 
cisco de  Guzman,  endeavouring  to  seize  him  by 
the  beard,  he  caught  the  hand  of  the  cavalier  be- 
twixt his  teeth,  and  held  it  with  the  gripe  of  a 
tiger. 

"  Hell  confound  thee,  wolf!"  cried  Guzman, 
groaning  with  pain,  and  striking  him  over  the  face 
with  the  hilt  of  his  sword,  but  in  vain :  "  Help  me, 
cavaliers,  or  he  will  have  my  hand  off! — Villain, 
unlock  thy  teeth. — " 

"  Stand  aside — This  will  unloose  thee,"  said 
one,  thrusting  his  rapier  into  the  thigh  of  the  vin- 
dictive wretch  ;  who  no  sooner  felt  the  cold  steel 
penetrate  his  flesh,  than  he  opened  his  mouth  to 
utter  a  yell.  "  Whip  him  up  now. — So  much  for 
traitors !" 

It  was  the  last  scream  of  the  assassin.  His  lips 
uttered  one  more  cry  to  heaven ;  the  name  of 
Magdalena  was  cut  short,  as  the  noose  closed  upon 
his  throat,  and  ended  in  a  hoarse,  rattling,  gulphing 
whine,  that  did  not  itself  prevail  beyond  the  space 
of  a  second.  As  he  shot  up  to  the  top  of  the  win- 
dow, an  intense  glare  of  lightning  flashed  through 
the  alabaster,  and  his  figure,  traced  upon  that  lus- 
trous and  ghastly  medium,  was  seen  dangling  and 
writhing  in  the  death-agony.  The  next  moment, 
the  huge  curtain  was  drawn  over  the  dreadful 
spectacle :  but  those  who  paused  a  moment,  to  look 
back,  could  behold  the  convulsions  of  the  dying 
miscreant  giving  motion,  and  sometimes  protrusion, 
to  the  dark  folds  of  the  drapery. — When  all  was 
silent,  in  the  darkness  of  the  night,  the  watchmen 
in   the  vestibule  could  yet  hear  the  pattering  of 


THE  INFIDEL.  247 

blood-drops  falling  from  his  mangled  limb,  upon  the 
sonorous  wood  of  the  platform. 

But  there  were  other  scenes  now  occurring, 
which,  for  a  time,  drove  from  their  thoughts  the 
memory  of  Villafana. 


248  TUE  INFIDEL. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


The  scene  of  death  in  which  they  were  engaged, 
had  so  employed  the  thoughts  of  the  cavaliers,  that 
they  were,  for  a  time,  insensible  to  many  tumuli  ii- 
ous  noises  in  the  city,  which,  beginning  at  the  mo- 
ment when  the  struggles  and  outcries  of  Villafana 
were  fiercest  and  loudest,  increased  every  instant, 
until  all  was  uproar. 

At  first,  as  they  rushed  in  disorder  to  the  doors, 
they  thought  the  din  was  caused  by  a  renewal  of 
the  storm,  or  rather  the  sudden  outbursting  of  a 
tornado ;  which,  overwhelming  the  houses  ol^  some 
of  the  poorer  citizens,  and  burying  them  among  the 
ruins,  might  account  for  the  screams  and  yells,  that 
were  mingled  with  other  noises.  But  they  soon 
exchanged  this  fear  for  one  more  stirring,  when,  as 
they  rushed  into  the  air,  they  heard  an  alarum  ring- 
ing from  the  chapel-bell  on  the  top  of  the  pyramid, 
drums  beating  to  arms,  arquebuses  firing  in  several 
different  quarters,  and  were  made  sensible  that  a 
conflict  was  raging  in  the  town. 

"  Dios  !"  cried  one ;  "  the  conspirators  are  upon 
us !  Let  us  back  to  the  hall  and  defend  our- 
selves !" 

"  My  life  upon  it,"  said  Gaspar,  "  the  conspirators 
will  not  stir  till  Villafana  opens  his  lips  to  them. — 
Heaven  rest  his  soul  1 — Hark !  these  are  the  yells 
of  Indians." 

"  On,  friends  !"  exclaimed  Cortes,  perceiving  the 
garden  full  of  soldiers,  rushing  from  various  parts 


THE  INFIDEL.  249 

of  the  palace,  as  if  to  seek  the  fray.  "  This  is  Tlas- 
calan  work — a  knavery  of  Xicotencal.  Hah  !  hark ! 
see !  'tis  an  assault  upon  the  prison  !  Ho,  Castilians  ! 
ho,  Christians !  cavaliers  and  soldiers,  to  arms ! 
haste,  to  arms !" 

While  the  soldiers,  collecting  together  at  the 
well-known  voice  of  the  Captain-General,  began  to 
rush  with  him  towards  the  prison,  over  which,  be- 
sides hearing  the  shouting  of  the  watchmen  at  the 
doors,  they  beheld  three  blazing  arrows  shot  up 
into  the  air,  their  alarm  was  directed  to  another 
quarter,  by  a  violent  cannonade  from  the  squadron, 
moored  yet  at  the  entrance  of  the  little  river ;  and 
looking  that  way,  they  perceived  to  their  astonish- 
ment and  fear,  no  less  than  four  of  the  brigantines 
suddenly  enveloped  in  flames. 

"  Guzman  and  Quinones  !"  cried  Cortes,  with  in- 
stant determination,  "  to  the  prison,  with  what  force 
ye  can  pick  up  on  the  way.  Shoot  all  fugitives,  as 
well  as  all  assailants.  The  rest  follow  me  to  the 
river;  for  I  would  mine  arms  should  be  burned, 
rather  than  my  vessels." 

By  this  time,  all  the  Spaniards  who  were  capable 
of  bearing  arms,  were  in  the  open  air,  and  follow- 
ing not  less  the  shouts  of  Cortes  than  the  crash  of 
the  falconets,  ran  hastily  towards  the  fleet,  which, 
it  was  now  evident,  was  furiously  beset  by  multi- 
tudes of  Indians  in  canoes.  The  flash  of  the  explo- 
sions and  the  flames  bursting  ruddily  out  from  sails 
and  cordage,  revealed  them  clustering  with  impe- 
tuosity around  the  devoted  vessels,  whose  crews,  it 
was  equally  apparent,  were  making  a  gallant  re- 
sistance. In  this  light,  the  houses  bordering  upon 
the  water  were  seen  covered  with  citizens,  looking 
on  with  a  tranquillity,  which  showed  that  their 
share  in  the  unexpected  hostilities,  if  indeed  they 
had  any,  was  entirely  passive.  A  more  agreeable 
sight  was  disclosed  to  Cortes,  as  he  ran  onwards, 
in  the  appearance  of  many  thousand  Tlascalans, 


250  THE  ixriDEL. 

rushing  down  the  narrow  meadows  wliich  bordered 
the  canal,  with  such  alacrity  of  speed  and  such  fu- 
rious cries  of  '  Tlascala  !'  and  '  Castilla !'  as  con- 
vinced him  of  their  fidehty  and  aflc^ction. 

"  It  is  a  Mexican  device,  after  all,"  he  mutter- 
ed ;  "a  })lan  of  the  ambassadors.  Well  done  for 
thee,  Villufana  ! — Bold  varlets,  these  !  What  !  down 
with  your  demi-culverins  and  sakers,  Orozca ! 
Where  is  my  good  cannonier,  Juan  Catalan  1  We 
will  aid  the  vessels  from  the  shore." 

The  mariners,  however  hotly  engaged,  replied  to 
the  cries  of  their  friends  with  shouts  of  courage  ; 
and  redoubling  their  exertions,  they  succeeded  not 
only  in  repelling  the  assailants,  whose  obvious  aim 
was  to  fire  the  whole  fleet,  from  those  ships  not 
yet  ignited,  but  even  in  extinguishing  the  flames  in 
the  less  fortunate  four.  In  this,  they  were  doubt- 
less materially  assisted  by  the  condition  of  the 
planks  and  timbers,  which  being  of  green  wood, 
the  flames  would  perhaps  have  confined  their 
ravages  to  the  more  combustible  sails  and  cordage, 
and  soon  expired  for  want  of  fuel.  They  weighed 
anchor  also,  and  taking  advantage  of  the  gusts 
which  still  blew  over  the  lake,  six  of  the  largest 
and  strongest  set  sail,  and  boldly  plunged  among 
the  canoes,  overturning  and  sinking  many,  while 
the  others,  receiving  assistance  from  the  shore,  be- 
took themselves  to  the  little  harbour,  dragging 
with  them  their  disabled  consorts. 

In  this  manner,  it  soon  became  evident  that  the 
danger  in  this  quarter  was  over  ;  and  Cortes,  di- 
recting that  the  position  of  the  brigantines  should 
be  strengthened  by  a  temjwrary  battery  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river,  returned  to  inspect  the  condi- 
tion of  the  city  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  palace. 

The  sounds  of  contention  were  over ;  and  one 
passing  through  the  garden,  and  listening  to  the 
moaning  of  the  winds  through  the  trees,  could 
scarce  have  believed  that  half  an  hour  before  it  had 


THE  INFIDEL.  251 

been  a  scene  of  such  warlike  bustle.  The  bell  rang 
no  longer,  the  drums,  trumpets,  and  arquebuses 
were  silent,  and  the  sentinels  paced  to  and  fro  at  their 
stations,  as  if  nothing  unusual  had  happened.  The 
only  sounds  indeed  that  now  vexed  the  calm  of  the 
night,  were  the  occasional  explosion  of  a  falconet 
from  some  brigantine,  afar  among  the  shadows  of 
the  lake,  still  pursuing  the  retreating  canoes.  The 
attack  was  perhaps  unpremeditated  ;  or,  perhaps, 
its  only  object  was  to  taunt  and  defy.  At  all  events, 
it  was  now  over ;  and  in  less  than  an  hour  from 
the  time  of  the  first  alarm,  the  cry  of  aW s-irell  could 
be  heard  through  the  different  quarters  of  the 
city. 

Before  this  satisfactory  conclusion  of  an  evening 
so  eventful,  the  Captain-General  was  doomed  to 
have  his  equanimity  put  to  the  proof  by  a  new 
trial.  A  double  line  of  guards  surrounded  the 
prison,  and  Guzman,  Q,uinones,  and  Gaspar  Olea 
were  among  them,  the  last  wringing  his  hands,  and 
bewailing ;  but  the  prison-door  was  open,  a  thin 
smoke  issued  from  it,  and  he  could  see,  at  a  glance, 
that  the  only  persons  in  the  apartment  were  a  few 
soldiers,  dashing  water  over  its  partly  consumed 
floor.  Under  the  very  threshold  lay  the  bodies  of 
two  soldiers,  fearfully  mangled ;  another  was 
writhing,  gasping,  and  dying  in  the  arms  of  his 
conn'ades  ;  and  a  fourth,  severely  wounded,  was 
narrating  to  Quinones  the  particulars  of  an  assault, 
made,  as  he  averred,  by  ten  thousand  devils,  or 
Mexicans,  who  sprang  suddenly  out  of  the  earth, 
killed  or  dispersed  the  whole  guard,  carried  off  the 
prisoner,  or  burned  him,  he  knew  not  which,  (for 
he  lay  upon  the  ground,  counterfeiting  death,)  and 
then,  setting  fire  to  the  building,  vanished  quite  as 
suddenly  as  they  came. 

"  Were  these  men  Mexicans  or  Tlascalans  ?" 
demanded  Cortes,  without  betraying  any  sign  of 
feeling. 


252  THE  INFIDEL. 

The  soldier  started  at  the  sound  of  his  leader's 
voice,  and  hastily  replied, 

"  In  good  faith,  senor,  I  know  not,  for  I  was 
somewhat  overcome  with  fear." 

"  And  with  wine,  sirrah  !"  exclaimed  the  General. 
"  But  it  matters  not — thou  art  too  stupid  to  answer 
now.  Have  this  fellow  into  the  den,  Q^uinones,  and 
let  him  be  brought  to  me  to-morrow. — Seiior  Don 
Francisco,  we  will  walk  to  the  palace. 

He  put  his  arm  into  Guzman's,  and  dragging 
him  to  a  little  distance,  where  no  beam  of  torch 
or  cresset  illuminated  his  visage,  exclaimed,  eagerly, 

"  Tell  me  the  truth,  Francisco : — has  he  perished 
by  fire  in  the  prison,  or  has  he  escaped  me  V 

"  Senor,"  replied  Guzman,  "  his  star,  or  his  devil, 
has  helped  him." 

"  Why  then  the  fiends  seize  thee,  and  all  false 
friends,  who  plague  me  !"  cried  Cortes,  giving  way 
to  passion.     "  Is  it  thus  I  am  to  be  cheated  1" 

"  Seiior,"  said  Guzman,  moderately,  but  without 
fear ;  "  I  have  mine  own  cause  of  distress,  for  my 
hand  is  horribly  mangled,  and  I  have  heard  that 
the  bite  of  a  dying  man  causes  mortification.  So, 
with  this  pain  of  body  and  mind,  I  may  not  speak 
good  counsel  or  good  defence. — When  I  reached 
the  prison,  it  was  empty  and  on  fire.  Had  not 
your  excellency  interfered  with  the  execution  this 
day—-" 

"  Ay,  there  again  !"  muttered  the  Captain-Gene- 
ral ;  "  mine  own  hand  is  made  to  befool  me ;  it 
pulls  out  of  the  pit  faster  than  my  foot  tramples 
in.  Hark  thee,  Guzman,  dost  thou  not  think 
this  young  man  is  protected  by  some  special 
providence  ?" 

"  I,  seiior  V 

*'  Why,  look  you,  what  could  have  carried  him 
through  the  tribes  of  the  West,  to  the  South  Sea, 
and  back  again  '? — (a  device  of  thy  scheming,  too  !) 
And,  didst  thou  not  see,  I  was  about  to  run  him 


THE  INFIDEL.  253 

through,  in  the  very  act  of  mutinous  resistance, 
when  a  brute  and  insensate  dog  seized  my  sword- 
blade  in  his  mouth  1  And  now,  for  the  third  time, 
what  but  his  angel  could  have  brought  to  his  pri- 
son-door yonder  infidels  of  Mexico — his  only  friends, 
I  think  1" 

"  Let  your  excellency  question  if  this  circum- 
stance will  not,  without  removing  him  from  punish- 
ment, give  a  still  stronger  excuse  for  it  1  The  scribe 
visited  him  in  the  dungeon  ;  a  paction  with  the 
enemy,  sealed  by  the  act  of  flight  with  them  to  their 
stronghold,  has  confirmed  him  thrice  over  a 
traitor." 

"Ay,  by  heaven  !  it  is  true  !"  said  Cortes,  smiting 
his  hands  together  ;  "  and,  by  and  by,  I  will  take 
him  out  of  his  hiding-place,  and  crown  the  day  of 
victory  with  a  double  triumph  '" 

"  And  who  can  affirm,"  quoth  Don  Francisco, 
"  that  the  misbelievers  have  not  taken  him  for  a 
sacrifice]  It  is  said,  the  coronation  of  Guatimozin 
is  deferred  only  until  he  can  provide  a  Castilian 
victim  to  do  honour  to  the  ceremony.  By  my  faith, 
seiior,  there  is  a  pleasant  twitch  in  my  cheek, — ay, 
in  the  scar  of  the  rapier-wound — at  the  very  thought 
of  this  retribution  !" 

"  Now,  by  heaven,"  said  Cortes,  with  an  altered 
voice,  "  villain  as  he  is,  I  cannot  rejoice  that  such 
a  dismal  fate  should  befall  him.  Death,  indeed,  but 
not  a  death  of  horror  !  Dost  thou  think  this,  then, 
can  be  his  doom  ?  Alas,  poor  youth  !  had  he  but 
some  one  to  lament  him  or  to  avenge,  I  were  better 
satisfied  with  what  I  have  done.  I  swear  to  thee, 
Francisco,  we  are  e'en  as  base  knaves  as  himself; 
for  we  have  employed  our  strength — our  cunning 
and  our  strength — against  a  creature  that  is  utterly 
friendless.  Alas,  I  say  ;  for  I  remember  me  of  the 
days  of  old ;  and  surely  I  loved  him  once  as  my 
own  soul." 

This  outbreaking  of  feeling  did  not  at  all  surprise 
VOL.  I.  22 


254  THE  INFIDEL. 

Guzman,  who  had  been  familiar  from  the  boginnino; 
with  the  el)binrrs  and  flowings  of  Don  Her  nan's 
hate,  and  who  had  several  times  seen  him,  when 
the  destiny  of  Juan  seemed  already  closed,  affected 
so  much  that  he  shed  tears,  as  he  did  at  the  present 
moment.  But  Guzman  was  acquainted  with  a 
spell  which  never  failed  to  banish  all  compunction 
from  the  General's  breast ;  and  he  did  not  scruple 
to  employ  it  now. 

"  It  is  enouG^h  !"  muttered  Cortes,  through  his 
cicnched  teeth.  "  Heaven  and  my  conscience  ac- 
quit me,  and  I  will  think  of  it  no  more." 

With  these  words,  he  seemed  to  discharge  from 
his  mind  all  thoughts  of  the  youth  so  deeply  detest- 
ed, and  addressing  himself  to  the  task  of  inspecting 
ill  person  the  condition  of  all  assailable  points  in 
the  city,  betook  himself  at  last,  and  at  the  day- 
dawn,  to  his  repose. 


END  OF  VOL.   t. 


CATALOGUE 


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10 


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Southey's  Hi.«tory  of  the  late  War  in  Spain 
and  I'ortugal.  4vol8. 8vo. 

Southey's  History  of  the  West  Indies.    3 
vols.  8vo. 
Spenser's  Faerie  Queen.  2  vols.  24mo. 
Spenser's  Faerie  Q.ueen,  with  Memoirs, 
Notes,  and  Glossary.  5  vols,  small  8vo. 

St.  Pierre's  Harmonies  of  Nature.   3  vols. 
8vo. 
Sully's  Memoirs.  5  vols.  8vo. 
Segur's  History  of  Russia  and  Peter  the 
Great.  8vo. 
Session  of  Parliament  of  1825. 
Stolberg's,   Count,    Travels   through  Ger- 
many,  Switzerland,    and    Italy,   translated 
by  Thomas  Ihdcroft.  3  vols.  I'Jnio. 

Sylva  Ilritlunica,  by  J.  G.  Strutt.    large 
8vo.  plates. 

Sketches    of  Scarborough,   a    Humorous 
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Sketch  Book  of  Fashion,  in  3  vols.  12rao. 
Sanford's  Female  Worthies.  12mo. 
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Southey's,  R.,  Vindicia;  Anglicanne.  8vo. 
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Taylor's  Holy  Living  and  Dying.  12mo. 

Turner's,  Sharon,  History  of  England.  12 
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Tales  of  Travels  in  Turkey.  I2mo. 

Taylor's,  Jeremy,  Whole  Works,  by 
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Turner's  Annual  Tour.  2  vols.  8vo.  splen- 
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Takings,  or  Life  of  a  Collegian,  2G  co- 
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Thorn's  Collection  of  Early  Prose  Ro- 
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Tooko's  Diversions  (if  Parley,  new  edition 
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J'ransrhenane  Memoirs.  Bvo. 


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bism.  4to. 

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Volney's  New  Researches  in  Aneient 
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Voltaire's  Philosophical  Dictionary.  6 
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den, &s,  Hvo. 

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Webster's  Travels  through  the  Crimea, 
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Zimmerman  on  Solitude. 
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I 


13 


ARTS   AND    SCIENCES. 


Adye's  Pocket  Gunner,  with  additions  by 
Egerton. 

Arcana  of  Science  and  Art,  for  1834. 

Analytical  Essay  on  the  Construction  of 
Machines.  4to. 

Alderson  on  the  Steam  Engine.  8vo. 
plates. 

Art  of  Glass  Blowing,  by  a  French  Artist. 
18m  o. 

Bonycastle's  Algebra.  2  vols.  8vo. 

Bcrthollet  on  Dyeing,  with  additions  by 
Dr.  Ure.  2  vols.  8vo. 

Buchanan  on  Mill  Work,  with  additions 
by  Tredgold.  2  vols.  8vo. 

Barlow  on  Strength  and  Stress  of  Timber. 
8vo. 

Berzelius  on  the  Blow  Pipe.  8vo. 

Brittori  and  Pugin's  Illustrations  of  the 
Public  Buildings  of  London.  2  vols. 

Britton  and  Le  Keux's  Antiquities  of 
Normandy. 

Beauchunt's  Naval  Gunner.  18mo. 

Bi!lington"s  Architectural  Dictionary. 
12nio. 

Brindley's  Compendium  of  Civil  Architec- 
ture. ]2nio. 

Bridge's,  Rev.  B.,  Treatise  on  Mechanics. 
8vo. 

Badnal  on  Rail  Roads.  8vo. 

Creswell's  Geometry.  8vo. 

Crcswell's  Maxima  and  Minima.  8vo. 

Chambers'  Civil  Architecture,  plates.  4to. 

Codrington  on  Light. 

Clerk'sEssny  on  Naval  Tactics.  8vo. 

Clias'  Gymnastic  Exercises.  8vo. 

Cooper's  Complete  Domestic  Distiller. 
18ino. 

Cabinet  of  Arts,  a  complete  System  of 
Drawing  and  Painting,  with  130  coloured 
and  plain  plates.  2  vols.  4to. 

Campbell's  Dictionary  of  Military  Science. 
8vo. 

Carding  and  Spinning  Master's  Assistant. 
8vo. 

Classical  Ornament,  for  the  use  of  Sculp- 
tors, Painters,  Modellers,  &c.  3  vols.  4to. 

Dictionary  of  Chemical  and  Philosophical 
Apparatus.  8vo. 

Dupin's  Mathematics,  with  additions  by 
G.  Birkbeck.  8vo. 

Douglas',  Sir  Howard,  Treatise  on  Naval 
Gunnery.  8vo. 

Emerson's  Principles  of  Mechanics.  8vo. 

Earnshaw's,  S.,  Dynamics,  or  an  Elemen- 
tary Treatise  on  Motion.  8vo. 

Erechtheion,  The,  at  Athens,  by  Henry 
Inwood.  folio,  numerous  plates. 

Poster  on  the  Atmosphere.  8vo. 
Ferguson's  Lectures  on  Mechanics.  8vo. 
Ferguson's    Lectures    on    Experimental 
Philosophy,  Astronomy,  &c.  8V~ . 
Farey  on  the  Steam  Engine,    to, 
B 


Flaxman's  Lectures  on  Sculpture,  with 53 
plates,  large  fivo. 

Gregory's,  O.,  LL  D.,  Mathematics  for 
Practical  Men  ;  being  a  common-place  book  ^ 
of  Principles,  Theories,  Rules,  and  Tables, 
in  various  departments  of  pure  and  mixt;d 
Mathematics,  with  their  most  useful  Appli- 
cations, especially  to  the  pursuits  of  Sur- 
veyors, Architects,  Mechanics,  and  Civil 
Engineers.  2d  edition.  8vo.  bds. 

Gray  on  Rail  Roads.  Bvo. 

Gray's  Operative  Chemist.  8vo.  plates. 

Gregory's  Lectures  on  Philosophy,  Astro- 
nomy, <Scc.  2  vols.  ]2mo. 

Guest  on  Cotton  Spinning.  4to.  plates. 

Galloway  on  Steam.  8vo. 

Galloway  and  Herbert's  History  and  Pro- 
gress of  the  Steam  Engine,  large  Bvo. 

Gwilt's  Rudiments  of  the  Architecture  of 
Vitruvius.  bvo. 

Gothic  Furniture,  27  coloured  plates  by 
Pugin.  4to. 

Gregory's  Treatise  on  Mechanics.  3  vols 
tvo. 

Grecian  Remains  in  Italy.  25  coloured 
plates,  folio. 

Hornsby  on  Land  Surveying.  8vo. 
Hutton's  Mathematics,   new  edition  by 
Ramsay.  1  vol.  Svo. 
Hutton's  Mathematical  Tracts.  3  v.  Svo. 
Harding  on  the  Use  of  the  Lead  Pencil.  4to. 

Jamieson's  Dictionary  of  Mechanical  Sci- 
ence. 4to.  plates. 

Keith's  Geometry.  8vo. 

Keith's  Trigonometry.  8vo. 

Key  to  Nicholson's  Mathematics.  Svo. 

Legh's  Music  of  the  Eye,  or  Essays  on 
Architecture.  Bvo.  plates. 

Little  on  Logarithms.  Svo. 

Leslie's  Geometrical  Analysis.  Svo. 

Leslie's  Philosophy  of  Arithmetic.  Bvo. 

Leslie's  Geometry  and  Trigonometry.  Svo. 

Leslie's  Geometry.  Bvo. 

Long's  Rail  Road  Manual.  J8mo. 

Lardner  on  the  Steam  Engine.  12mo. 

Laplace's  System  of  the  World,  translated 
by  Harte.  2  vols.  Bvo. 

Lardner's  Differential  and  Integral  Calcu- 
lus. 8vo. 

Murphy  on  Weaving,  15  plates.  Svo, 

Morrice  on  Brewing.  8vo. 

Mackensie's  1000  Experiments  in  Chemis- 
try. Svo. 

Mackernan  on  Printing  and  Dyeing 
Silks.  Svo. 

MuUer's  Elements  of  Differential  Calcu- 
lus. Svo. 

Miller's  Hydrostatics.  Svo. 

Nicholson's  Operative  Mechanic.  Svo. 
Nicholson's  Philosophy.  2  vols.  Svo. 


14 


Kicholson's  Principles  of  Architecture.  3 
Vols.  8vo. 

Nicholson's  Practical  Builder.  2  vols.  4to. 

Nicholson  on  Masonry  and  Stone  Cutting. 
6vo. 

Nicholson's  Mechanic's  Companion.  8vo. 

Nicholson's  CariK'nter'r;  Guide.  4to. 

Nicholson's  Cabinet  Makers  Guide.  4to. 

Nicholson's  Encyclopedia.  G  vols.  gvo. 

Newton's  Priiicipia,  new  edition.  2  large 
vols.  gvo. 

Partington's    Builders   Complete    Guide. 
8vo. 
Partington's  Ship  Builder's  Guide.  8vo. 
Partington's  Clock    and    VVatch-niakcr's 
Guide.  8vo. 

Partington's  Printer's  Guide.  8vo. 

Partington's  Engraver's  Guide.  8vo. 

Partington's  Coach  maker  and  Wheel- 
wright's Guiiie.  f!vo. 

Partington's  Mechanic's  I,ibrary.  8vo. 

Partington's  Manual  of  Natural  and  Ex- 
perimental Philosophy.  2  vols.  8vo. 

Peddie's  Cotton  Manufacturer's  Guide. 
ISnio. 

Peddie's  Linen  and  Woollen  Manufactu- 
rer's Guide.  18mo. 

Peddie's  Weaver  and  W^arper's  Assistant. 

Packer's  Dyer's  Guide.   I'imo. 

Parnell's,  Sir  Henry,  Treatise  on  Roads. 
8vo. 

Powell's  Treatise  on  Optics.  8vo. 

Playfair's  I'liilosopliy.  2  vols.  8vo. 

Pope  on  Bridge  Architecture.  8vo. 

Practical  Surveying  and  Plan  Drawing. 
Bvo.  plates. 

Robison's  Mechanical  Philosophy,  with 
notes  by  Brewster.  4  vols.  8vo. 

Report  of  the  Directors  of  the  Liverpool 
and  Alanchester  Rail  Way.  8vo. 

Riddle's  Treatise  on  Navigation  and  Nau- 
tical Astronomy,  bvo. 

Reids  Treatise  on  Clock  and  Watch- 
making. 8vo. 

Stuart  on  the  Steam  Engine.  8vo. 

Stuart's  Anecdotes  of  Steam  Engines  and 
other  Inventions.  2  vols.  18mo. 

Seward  on  Bridges.  8vo. 

Smeaton's  Builder's  Pocket  Manual.  ]8mo. 

Smeaton's  R<'pi)rt  on  Canals,  Rivers,  Har- 
bours, &c.  &;c.  3  vols.  4to. 

Steele's  Shipmaster's  Assistant.  8vo. 


Smith's  Panorama  of  Science  and  Art 

2  vol.<.  hvo. 

Smith's  Mcrh.:nic  Arts.  2  vols.  8vo. 

Smith  on  Chimneys,  t^vo. 

Smith's  Origin  and  Progress  of  Architec- 
ture. 

Stuart  and  Revett's  Antitjuities  of  Athens. 
4  vols,  folio. 

Stuart's  Dictionarv  of  Architecture,  illus- 
trated by  lOiM)  fitrures.  3  vols.  8vo. 

SiiIlitJ<;  on  Cotton  Siunning,  &c.  8vo. 

Soanes,  John,  De.signs  for  Public  and 
Private  Buildirics.  folio. 

Steele's  Naval  Architerture.  folio. 

Starkart's  Naval  Architecture    folio. 

Tingrey's  Painter  and  Varnisher's  Guide. 
12mo. 

'''redgold  on  Cast  Iron  and  other  Metals. 
8vo. 

Tredgold  on  Warming  and  Vent='ating 
Public  Buildings,  fvo. 

Tredgold  on  Steam.  4to. 

Tredgold  on  Rail  Roads  and  Steam  Car- 
ria<jps.  8\'o. 

Turnbull  on  Strength  and  Dimensions  of 
Ca.-t  Iron  Beams.  8vo. 

Th.'ory  and  Practice  of  Warming  and 
Ventilating  Public  Buildings.  8vo. 

Tucker's  J'hilosophical  Catechism.  12mo. 

Trendall's,  E.  W.,  Designs  for  Cottages 
and  Villas,  in  the  Grecian,  Gothic,  ana 
Italian  Styles  of  Architecture.  4to.  i)lates. 

Vince's  Complete  System  of  Astronomy. 
3  vols.  4to. 

Wood's  Practical  Treatise  on  Rail  Roads, 
with  additions,  large  8vo. 

White's  Century  of  Inventions.  4to. 
plates. 

Whewhell's  First  Principles  of  Mechanics. 
8vo. 

Young's  Elements  of  Mechanics.  8vo. 

Young's  Elements  of  Integral  Calculus. 
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Young's  Elements  of  Differential  Calcu- 
lus. 8vo. 

Young's  Algebra.  8vo. 

Young's  Elements  of  Geometry.  8vo. 

Young's  Elements  of  Analytical  Geome 
try.  8vo. 

Young's  Elements  of  Pure  and  Spherical 
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WORKS  ON  MEDICINE,  SURGERY,  &C. 


Adams  on  Artificial  Pupil.  8vo. 

Adams  on  Eciropium.  8vo. 

Adams'  Morbid  Poisons.  8vo. 

Addison's  Treatise  on  the  Properties  of 
Malvern  Water.  8vo. 

Alcock's  Lectures  on  Surgery.  8vo.  co- 
loured plates. 

Abernethy's  Surgical  Works.  4  vols.  8vo. 

Abernethy's  Lectures.  8vo. 

Atkinson  on  Stone  in  the  Bladder.  8vo. 

Animal,  The,  Kingdom  of  Cuvier,  trans- 
lated by  McMurtrie.  4  vols.  8vo. 


Allen's,  M.,  Cases  of  Insanity.  8vo. 

Ayre,  J.,  on  Dropsy  of  the  Brain.  8vo. 

Ayre,  J.,  on  Diseases  of  the  liiver.  8vo. 

Annesley  on  Diseases  of  India.  8vo. 

Armstrong's  Morbid  Anatomy  of  the 
Stomach,  Liver,  and  Bowels.  4to. 

Armstrong's  Morbid  Anatomy  of  the  Na- 
ture and  Treatment  of  Acute  and  Chronic 
Diseases.  8vo. 

Allan's  Surgery.  2  vols.  8vo. 

Allan's  Manual  of  Mineralogy. 


15 


Tacot  on  Syphilis.  8vo. 

Buchan"3  Domestic  Medicine.  8vo. 

Brande's  Manual  of  Pharmacy. 

Brande's  Outline  of  Geolnsry-  l2mo. 

Brande's  Manual  of  Chemistry.    2  vols. 
8vo. 

Bell,  Charles,  on  Injuries  of  the  Spine  and 
Thigh  Bone.  4to. 

Bell,  Charles,  on  the  Nerves. 

Bell's,  Charles,  Illustrations  of  the  Great 
Operations  of  Surgery. 

Bell's.  John,  Principles  of  Surgery.  4  vols. 
8vo.  coloured  plates. 

Baternan  on  Cutaneous  Diseases.  8vo. 

Barclay  on  the  Arteries.  12mo. 

Brown's  Essays  on  Fever,  Inflammation, 
&c  &.C.  8vo. 

Burrows  on  Insanity.  8vo. 

Blu  men  bach's  Physiolggy,  translated  by 
Elliottson.  8vo. 

Blumcnbach's    Manual    of  Comparative 
Anatomy.  8vo. 

Baron  on  the  Structure  of  Man.  4to. 

Burns'  I'rinciples  of  Midwifery,  7th  edi- 
tion. Svo. 

Bcaie  on  Distortion  of  the  Spine.  8vo. 

Ballinpall's  Military  Surgery.  Svo. 

Blundell's  Physiological  and  Pathological 
Researches.  8vo. 

Burne  on  Typhus  Fever.  8vo. 

Blane  on  Diseases  of  Seamen. 

Bancroft  on  Yellow  Fever.  2  vols.  8vo. 

Brown's  Illustrations  of  the  Conchology 
of  Great  Britain.  4to. 

Blackmore,  E.,  on  Consumption.  Svo. 

Baillie's,  M.,  Works,  by  Wardrop.  2  vols. 
Svo. 

Butt's  Botanical  Primer.  12mo. 

Blundell's,  James,  Principles  and  Practice 
of  Obstetricy.  large  Svo. 

Bushnan  on  Worms  in  the  Blood.  8vo. 

Boase's  Treatise  on  Primary  Geology. 

Clarke  on  Diseases  of  Women.    2  vols. 
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Svo. 

Carus'  Introduction  to  Comparative  Ana- 
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Craigie's  Pathological  Anatomy. 

Cioquet's  System  of  Anatomy. 

CuJIcn's  Works,  by  Thomson.  2  vols.  8vo. 

Culien's  Works,  by  Gregory.  2  vols.  8vo. 

Cooprr,  Sir  A.,  on  Structure  and  Diseases 
of  the  Testis.  4to.  coloured  plates. 

Cooper,  Sir  A.,  on  ffernia.  folio,  plates. 

Cheyne  on  Apoplexy.  8yo. 

Celsus  on  Medicine,  with  notes  by  Lee. 
Svo. 

Conversations  on  Geology.  ]2mo. 

Combes'  System  of  Phrenology. 

Cox  on   tlie   Bones,  Ligaments,  &c.  &;c. 
]2mo. 

Christison's,  R.,  Treatise  on  Poisons.  8vo. 

Corby n,  F.,  on  Epidemic  Cholera.  8vo. 

Cliapnvm's,  H.  T.,  Description  of  Surgical 
Ajjparatus.  1  vol.  Svo.  with  atlas. 

Cheyne  on  Water  in  the  Brain.  Svo. 

CeisMS  de  Mediciuce,  with  notes  by  Milli- 
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Campb.Tirs  Midwifery.  Svo. 
■  Carbutl's  Clinical  Lectures.  Svo. 


Cameron  on  the  Influence  of  Variety  in 
Diet. 

Cooper's,  B.  B.,  Surgical  Essays,  coloured 
plates.  Svo. 

Davis'  Operative  Midwifery.  4to.  plates. 

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Memoirs,  contained  in  the  Annates  dea 
Mines.  Svo. 

De  La  Beeches'  Geological  Manual.  Svo. 

Duppa's  Linnean  System  of  Botany.  3 
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Davy's  Elements  of  Chemical  Philosophy. 
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Darwell  on  Infants.  12mo. 

Dalrymple's  Anatomy  of  the  Human  Eye. 
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Daniell's  Meteorological  Essays  and  Ob- 
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Essay  on  Chemical  Analysis,  by  Thenard, 
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England,  W.,  on  the  Kidneys.  Svo. 

Eccles  on  Ulceration  of  the  Leg.  I2mo. 

Earle  on  the  Nerves.  Svo. 

Edmund  on  the  Influence  of  Ph5'sical 
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For.sythe's  Medical  Dictionary,  large  12mo, 

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Ford  on  Dropsy. 

Fox  on  Disorders  of  Women  and  Children. 
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Faithorn  on  the  Liver.  Svo. 

Gray's  Supplement  to  the  Pharmacopeia. 
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Gooch  on  Diseases  of  Females.  Svo. 

Gooch  on  Midwifery.  8vo. 

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Guthrie  on  Diseases  and  Injuries  of  the 
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Granger's  Elements  of  General  Anatomy. 
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Plants.  2  vols.  Svo. 

Ilowship's,  John,  Surgery.  Svo. 

Howship,  John,  on  the  Intestines.  8vo. 

Ilowship,  John,  on  the  Urinary  Organs. 
Svo. 

Hawkins'  Medical  Statistics.  8vo. 

Hey's  Observations  on  Surgery.  Svo. , 

Hennen's  Military  Surgery.  Svo. 

Hennen's  Medical  Topography.  Svo. 

Holland  on  the  Liver,  &c.  8vo. 

Home,  Sir  E.,  on  Tumours.  Svo. 

Hall  on  Diseases  of  Females.  Svo. 

Hunter  on  Venereal.  Svo. 

Halford's,  Sir  H.,  Essays  and  Orations. 
12mo. 

Harrison,  E.,  on  Spinal  Diseases,  2d  edi» 
tion.  Svo. 


16 


Hooker's,  W.  J.,  British  Flora.  8vo. 

Ilo<)e,  J.,  on  Dise.ipos  of  tlio  Heart.  8vo. 

Hookers,  VV.  Jackson,  liotaiiical  Miscel- 
lany. 4to. 

Hiil  on  Clipping:.  18mo. 

Hamilton's  History  of  Medicine,  Surgery, 
and  Anatomy.  2  vols.  12mo. 

James,  J.  H.,  on  Inflammation.  8vo. 

Jackson,  11.,  on  Febrile  Diseases.  2  vols. 
Svo. 

Ingleby,  J.  F.,  on  Homorrhntrc.  8vo. 

Icunes',  Filicuni.  Fifiurcs  and  Descriptions 
of  Ferns,  by  \V.  Jack.^on  Hooker,  and  R.  K. 
Grevillo.  2  vols,  folio. coloured  plates. 

Jones'  Manual  of  Pharniacolopy.  It^nio. 

Iinbrie's  Parents'  Dental  Guide.  Svo. 

Kicker  on  Diseases  of  the  Jaws.  8vo. 
Kirby  and  Sponco's  Introduction  to  En- 
tomology. 4  vols.  Svo. 
Kay's,  J.  p.,  Treatise  on  Asphyxia.  Svo. 

Lamarcke's  Conchology,  by  Crouch.  4to. 
coloured  plates. 

Lamarcke's  Conchology,  by  Crouch.  4to. 
plain  plates. 

Lamarcke's,  Epitome  of,  Conchology,  by 
Dubois.  ]"2mo. 

Lizar's  System  of  Anatomical  Plates,  ac- 
coHipaniod  with  Descriptions,  and  Physiolo- 
gical, Pathological,  and  Surgical  Observa- 
tions, fulio.  splendidly  coloured. 

Liston's,  R.,  Elements  of  Surgery. 

Lawrence  on  Venereal  Diseases  of  the 
Eye.  Svo. 

Lawrence  on  the  Ej'e.  1  large  vol.  Svo. 

Lancet,  The,  complete  in  21  vols.  Svo. 

Lindley's,  John,  Introduction  to  Botany. 
Svo. 

Leach's  Translation  of  Gregory  and  Cel- 
6US.  Svo. 

Lyell's  Principles  of  Geology,  new  edition, 
complete  in  4  vols.  12mo. 

Idea's,  Lsaac,  Introduction  to  Geology. 
Svo.  plates.  {American.) 

Lawrence  on  Ruptures.  Svo. 

Marshall,  A.,  on  the  Brain.  Svo. 

Macauley's  Popular  Medical  Dictionary. 
Svo. 

Morrison's  Cases  of  Mental  Disease. 
Svo. 

Munro's  Morbid  Anatomy  of  the  Brain. 
Svo. 

Munro's  Anatomy  of  the  Human  Bones. 
12mo. 

Mcintosh's  Practice  of  Physic.  Svo. 

Macken.-^ie  on  Diseases  of  the  Eye.  Svo. 

Mills,  T.,  on  Disorders  of  the  Brain.  Svo. 

Mills,  T.,  on  Trachea,  Lungs,  &c.  Svo. 

Mills,  T.,  on  Fever.  Svo. 

Medical  Essays  and  Observations',  revised 
and  published  by  a  Society  in  Edinburgh. 
G  vols.  Svo. 

Maiighan's  Manual  of  Medical  Chemistry. 
Irino. 

Moh's  Minoraloiiy.  3  vols.  Svo. 

Murray's  ('IsGini.'^try.  2  vols.  Svo. 

Manloll's  Geology  of  the  South-east  of 
F.uizlaiid.  Svo.  plates. 

Marley  on  Diseases  of  Children.  Svo. 


Maclean  on  Epidemic  and  Pestilential 
Diseases.  2  vols.  tivo. 
Mawe's  Conchology.  Svo.  coloured  plates 
Mawe's  System  of  Conchology.    Svo.  co- 
loured plates. 

Norton's,  R  ,  Elements  of  Diagnosis,  Pa- 
thology, and  Therapeutics.  Svo. 

Naturalist's  Library,  conducted  by  Sir  W. 
Jardino,  with  numerous  coloured  plates, 
descriptions.  woodcut.>»,  and  Lives  of  cele- 
brated .Xaturalist.-s.now  publishing  in  month- 
ly volumes,  foolscap  Svo. 

Pring's  Pathology.  Svo. 

Parry,  C.  H.,  Coliections  from  the  unpub- 
lished Medical  Wiitings  of.   2  vols.  Svo. 

I'arry's,  C  H.,  Pathology.  8vo. 

Plumbe  on  Di.^eases  of  the  Skin.  Svo. 

Paris  and  Fonblaiupie's  Medical  Jurispru- 
dence. 3  vols.  Svo. 

Percival's,  T.,  Medical  Ethics.  jPino. 

Pa.xtoii's  Introduction  of  the  Study  of 
Human  Anatomy.  2  vols.  Svo. 

Philips',  VV.,  Elementary  Introduction  to 
Mineralogy,  yvo.  plates. 

Parkinson's,  James,  Introduction  to  the 
Study  of  Fossil  Organic  Uemarns.  Svo. 

Piirland  on  the  Teeth.  Svo. 

Practical  Treatise  on  Injuries  of  the 
Head.  Timo. 

Perry's  Conchology,  or  the  Natural  His- 
tory of  Shells,  61  plates,  containing  4.50 
specimens  beautifully  coloured,  folio. 

Pursh's  Flora  of  North  America,  24  plateft 
2  vols.  Svo. 

Philips,  Wilson,  on  Minute  Doses  of  Mer- 
cury. 12mo. 

Plumbe  on  Vaccination.  Svo. 

Philips'  Guide  to  Geology. 

Ciuain's,  Jones,  Elements  of  Descriptive 
Anatomy.  Svo. 

Rhind's,  W.,  Treatise  on  Intestinal 
Worms.  Svo. 

Rncco,  J.,  on  the  Pulse.  2  vols.  Svo. 

Reniiie,  A.,  on  Asthma.  Svo. 

Rose's  Manual  of  Analytical  Chemistry. 
Svo. 

Reid's,  O.  B.,  Practical  Chemistry.  Svo. 

Ryan's  Manual  of  Medical  Jurisprudence. 
Svo. 

Reid's,  II.,  Outlines  of  Medical  Botany. 
I2mo. 

Robertson's,  A.,  Conversations  on  Ana- 
tomy, Physiology,  &.c.  2d  edition.  Itfmo. 

Ramsbotham's  Midwifery.  2  vols. 

Raihadge  on  Consumption.  Svo. 

Scudamore,  Charles,  on  Rheumatism. 
Svo. 

Somors  on  Army  Diseases.  Svo. 

Stephens  on  Hernia.  Svo. 

Stanly's  Manual  of  Practical  Anatomy, 
12nio. 

Saunders  on  Diseases  of  the  Eye.  Svo. 

Saunders  on  Diseases  of  the  Ear.  Svo. 

Stair.inl  on  Ulcers.  Svo. 

Stalil)nl  on  Diseases  of  the  Eyo.  Svo. 

Stafford  on  Diseases  and  Disorders  of  the 
S2)ine.  Svo, 


17 


SejTn6ur,  E.  J.,  on  Ovaria,  in  1  vol.  8vo. 
nnd  atlas. 

Spurzheim's  Phrenology,  American  edi- 
tion. 2  vols.  8vo. 

Spurzheim's  Anatomy  of  the  Brain,  Ame- 
rican edition.  1  vol.  gvo. 

Spurzheim's  Piiysiognomy  applied  to  Phy- 
siology. 8vo. 

Spurzheim's  Outlines  ofPhrenology. 

Spurzhriiui's  Natural  Laws  of  Man. 

Spurzheim's  Insanity. 

Salmon  on  Prolapsus  of  the  Rectum.  8vo. 

Severn's  First  Lines  in  the  Practice  of 
Midwifery.  8vo. 

Snell  on  Diseases  of  the  Teeth.  8vo. 

Supplement  to  the  Pharmacopeia.  12mo. 

Stafford  on  Strictures  of  the  Urethra.  8vo. 

Sutleffe's  Medical  and  Surgical  Cases.  8vo. 

IShute'a  Pathology.  8vo. 

Seymour  on  Insanity.  8vo. 

Severn's  First  Lines  in  Midwifery.  8vo. 

Teideman's  Anatomy  of  the  Foetal  Brain. 
8vo. 

Thomson,  T.,  on  Heat  and  Electricity.  8vo. 

Thomson's  Chemistry  of  Inorganic  Bo- 
dies. 2  vols.  8vo. 

Tod  on  the  Anatomy  and  Physiology  of 
Hearing.  8vo. 

Turton's,  Dr.,  BivalveShellsof  the  British 
Islands,  20  coloured  plates.  4to. 

Thomas'  Anatomy  of  the  Bones  and  Ar- 
ticulations. 12mo. 

Turnbull  on  Veratria.  8vo. 


Thomson's,  A.  T.,  Materia  Medica,  and 
Therapeutics.  2  vols.  8vo. 

Uvvin's  Treatise  on  Indigestion,  &c.  &c. 
]2mo. 

lire's.  A.,  Chemical  Dictionary,  4th  edi- 
tion. 8vo. 

Underwood's  Interlinear  Translation  of 
Celsus    3  vols.  8vo.  , 

Underwood's  Aphorisms  of  Hippocrates. 
12mo. 

Veitch  on  Yellow  Fever.  8vo. 
Venables  on  Diabetes.  8vo. 

Warren,  George,  on  Disorders  of  the  Head. 
8vo. 

Wardrop  on  Aneurism.  8vo. 

Weiss  on  Surgical  Instruments.  8vo. 

Wadd  on  Corpulence.  8vo. 

Woodward's,  S.,  Synoptical  Table  of 
British  Organic  Remains.  8vo. 

Waller's  Elements  of  Practical  Midwife- 
ry. 24mo. 

Withering's  Botany.  4  vols.  8vo. 

Withering's  Systematic  Arrangement  of 
British  Plants.  8vo. 

Withering's  Botany,  by  Macgillivray. 
l^nio. 

Wickham  on  Diseases  of  the  Joints.  8vo. 

Wright  on  Diseases  of  the  Ear.  8vo. 

Young's  Introduction  to  Medical  Litera- 
ture. 8vo. 


AMERICAN  MEDICAL  BOOKS. 


Andral's  Pathological  Anatomy.  2  vols. 
8vo. 

Abcrcrombie  on  the  Brain.  8vo. 

Abercrombie  on  the  Stomach.  8vo. 

Averil's  Surgery.  l-2mo. 

Ayro  on  the  Liver.  18mo. 

American  Gentleman's  Medical  Pocket 
Book.  24mo. 

American  Ladies'  Medical  Pocket  Book. 
24ino. 

Avery  on  Dyspepsia.  12mo. 

Burns  on  the  Flead  and  Neck. 

Burns  on  Inflammation. 

Burn's  Midwifery,  by  .Tames.  2  vols.  8vo. 

Bell's  Anatomj'.  2  vols.  8vo. 

Bell's  Surgery. 

Bell's  Arteries,  coloured  plates.  8vo. 

Bell  on  Bones  and  Joints,  coloured  plates. 
4tn. 

Bell  on  Teeth.  8vo. 

Bell  on  Nerves.  8vo. 

Eostock's  Physiology.  3  vols. 

Bronpaiss'  Physiology.  8vo. 

Bronpaiss'  Phlegmasia.  2  vols.  8vo. 

Bronpaiss'  Insanity.  8vo. 

Boisseau  nn  Fever.  8vo. 

Barton's  Cullen.  2  vols. 

Barton's  Medical  Botany.  2  vols.  4to.  co- 
loured plates. 

Brande's  Chemistry.  Pvo. 

Berlin  on  Diseases  of  the  Heart.  8vo. 
d2 


Baudeloqne  on  Puerperal  Peritonitis.  8vo. 

Bichat  on  Life  and  Death.  8vo. 

Beck's  Murray's  Materia  Medica.  8vo 

Bell  on  Wounds.  8vo. 

Bell  on  Venereal. 

Bateman's  Cutaneous  Diseases.  Svo. 

Bancroft  on  Fever.  8vo. 

Bichat's  Physiology  and  Pathology.  Bvo. 

Bailie's  Morbid  Anatomy.  8vo. 

Beclard's  Anatomy.   8vo. 

Buchan'p  Domestic  Medicine.  8vo. 

Brodie  on  the  Joints.  8vo. 

Bf^aumont  on  the  Gastric  Juice.  Svo. 

Bougery's  Treatise  on  Minor  Surgery.  ?vo. 

Cooper's,  S.,  Surgical  Dictionary.  Svo. 

Cooper's,  Sir  A.,  Lectures.  3  vols.  8vo. 

Cooper,  Sir  A.,  on  Dislocations.  8vo. 

Cooper's,  S.,  Surgery.  2  vols.  8vo. 

Chemistry  of  the  Arts.  2  vols.  Svo. 

Cox's  Dispensatory.  Svo. 

Chapman's  Therapeutics.  2  vols.  Svo. 

Calhoun's  Pront  on  Urinary  Organs.  Svo 

Costers  Physiological  Practice.  Svo. 

Cooke  on  Nervous  Diseases.  Svo. 

Cooke's  Morgagni.  2  vol.s. 

Cooke  on  White  Mustard  Seed. 

Colic's  Surgical  Anatomy. 

Cassenave  and  Schajdel  on  Cutaneous 
Diseases.  Svo. 

Cook's  Pathology  and  Therapeutics.  2  vols 
8vo. 


18 


Cooper  and  Travera'  Piircical  Essays.  8vo. 

Caldwell's  Cullen.  2  vols.  8vo. 

(Joster's  Surcical  Opcralions. 

(;iof|uet's  Anatomy.  8vo. 

Jjoinhe's,  Dr.,  I'lirenology.  8vo. 

Combe's  Treatise  on  Mental  Derange- 
ment.  ]2nio. 

Copeland's,  James,  Medical  Dictionary. 
8vo. 

Dewecs'  Practice,  2il  edition.  6vo. 

Dewees'  Midwifery.  8vo. 

Dewces'  Females.  8vo. 

Dewees' Children.   8vo. 

Dewees'  Baiidelocqne.  8vo. 

Deiiman's  Midwifery,  by  Francis.  SvCi." 

Dunglispon's  riiysioio'ry.  2  vols.  8vo. 

Dun^lisson's  Medical  Dictionary.  2v.  Bvo. 

Ducanip  on  Retention  of  Urine.  8vo. 

Dupnytren's  Lectures  on  Surgery.  6vo. 

Desruellcs  on  Venereal, 

Darwin's  Zoonomia.  2  vols.  8vo. 

Darwin's  Pyrotologia.  8vo. 

Daniell  on  Fevers.  8vo. 

Default's  Surgery.  8vo. 

Dorsey's  Surgery.  8vo. 

Dean's  Lectures  on  Phrenology.  12uio. 

Duffin  on  the  Spine.  12mo. 

Eberle's  Practice.  2  vols.  8vo. 
Eborle's  Diseases  of  Children.  8vo. 
Eborle's  Therapeutics,  4th  edition. 
Ewells  Medical  Companion,  8lh  edition. 
Eclectic  Repertory. 
Edinburg  Dispensatory.  Bvo. 
Edwards'  Manual  of  Materia  Mcdica.  Bvo. 
Emerson's  Carmichael  on  Venereal.  8vo. 
Elliott's  Botany.  2  vols.  8vo. 

Farrad.-iv's  Chemical  Manipulations.  Bvo. 

Ferriar's  Medical  Histories.  Bvo 

Fordycc  on  Fevers.  8vo. 

Fai thorn  on  the  Liver.  8vo. 

Fish(!r  on  Small  Pox.  4to.  coloured  plates. 

Fitch's  Dental  Surgery.  Bvo. 

Gooch's  Midwifery.  Bvo. 

Gooch's  Females.  8vo. 

Gro.-^s'  Manual  of  Anatomy.  Bvo. 

Gross'  Manual  of  Anatomy  of  Bones.  Bvo. 

Gross'  Manual  of  Obstetrics.  8vo. 

Gorliaui's  Medical  Chemistry.  Bvo. 

Grceiilinw  on  Cholera.  Hvo. 

Godman's,  J.  D.,  Anatomical  Investiga- 
tions. Bvo. 

Godman's  Addresses.  1  vol.  Bvo. 

Gonpil's  Exposition  of  the  New  Medical 
Doctrine.  8vo. 

Gibson's  Surgery.  2  vols.  Bvo. 

Graham  on  liuligestion.  8vo. 

Good's  Study  of  Medicine.  5  vols.  Bvo. 

Green's  (Jhemi.'^try.  Bvo. 

Great,  The,  Sympathetic  Nerve,  a  plate 
coloured. 

Graham  on  Indigestion.  Bvo. 

Hall  on  Diir'^f'tivc  Organs.  Bvo. 

Hall  on  liO.ss  of  Blood.  Hvo. 

H:;ury's  Chemi^^lry,  by  Hare.  2  vols.  Bvo. 

Hare's  Chemistry.  Bvo. 

Horner's  Practical  Anatomy.  Bvo. 

Ilorner'a  Special  Anatomy   2  vols.  8vo. 


ITomcr's  Pathological  Anatomy.  StoIs. 

Bvo. 

Hennen's  Military  Surgery.  8vo. 
Hamilton's  Midwifery.  8^o. 
Hamilton  on  Puiv'alives.  Bvo. 
Honjier's  Mcdiral  Dictionary.  Bvo. 
Hosack's  Medical  Essays.  2  vols.  Bvo. 
Heberden's  Medical  Commentaries.  8vo. 
Hutins  Physiology.  ]2mo. 
Hunter  oti  the  Blood.  Bvo. 
Hunter  on  Venereal.  Bvo. 
Halstead  on  Dyspepsia.  12ino. 

Innes  on  the  Muscles.  Bvo. 

Johnson,  James,  on  the  Liver.  Bvo. 

Jf)hiis{3n,  James,  on  Climate.  Bvo. 

Johnson,  James,  on  Stomach,  Bowels,  &c 
12mo. 

Johnson,  James,  on  Change  of  Airs.  Bvo. 

John.son's,  James,  Civic  Life.  Bvo. 

Johnson's,  J.ames,  Canc(;r.   12rno. 

Johnson's,  James,  Leech.  Timo. 

Jones  on  Henimorrhage.  Bvo. 

James'  Burns.  2  vols  Bvo. 

James'  Burns.   1  vol.  Bvo. 

James'  Merrinian.  1  vol.  Bvo. 

Jackson's,  Saumel,  Principles  of  Medicine. 
Bvo. 

Laenncc  on  the  Chest.  Bvo. 
Laennec  on  the  Stethoscope.  18mo. 
Larrey's  Surgical  Essays.  Bvo. 
Larrey's  Gun  Shot  Wounds.  Bvo. 
Larrey's  Surgical  Memoirs.  Bvo. 
London  Practice  of  Midwifery.  Bvo. 
I..avoisier's  (Chemistry.  Bvo. 
Lawrcncffs  Physiology.    8vo. 
Lady's,  The,  MedicalGuide,  by  the  late 
R.  Rush.   IBmo. 
Lobsiein  on  the  Eye.  Bvo. 

Medico  Chirurgical  Transactions,  selected 
by  Dr.  Hays.  8vo. 

Meygrier'sMidwifery,byDoanc.  large  Bvo 

Meygricr's  Anatom}'.  larue  12mo. 

Martinet's  Manual  of  Pathology.  12mo. 

Martinet's  Therapeutics.   IBmo. 

Maclean  on  Hydrotliorax.  B\o. 

Miller's  Life  and  Medical  Writings.  Bvo. 

Mosely's  Tracts.  Bvo. 

Miner  and  Tully  on  Fevers.  Bvo. 

Morton  on  Consumption,  coloured  plates. 
8vo. 

Mackensie  on  the  Eye.  Bvo. 

Meckel's  Anatomy.  3  vols.  Bvo. 

Orfila  on  Poisons.  12mo. 

Pharmacoepia  of  the  United  States.  Bvo. 

Parr's  Medical  Dictionary.  2  vols.  4to. 

Paris  Pharmacologia. 

Phillips  on  Indigestion.  Bvo. 

Phillips  on  Vital  Functions.  Bvo. 

Phillips  on  Acute  and  Chronic  Diseases. 
Bvo. 

Peinbcrton  on  the  Viscera. 

Paxton's  Illustrations  of  Anatomy.  2  vols. 
8vi). 

Parson's  Anatomical  Preparations.   Bvo. 

Rush's  Inquiries.  2  vols.  Bvo. 
Ruah'd  Lectures.  Bvo. 


t 


19 


Raeh  on  the  Mind.  8vo. 
Rush's  Hillary.  8vo. 

Ryland's   Manual    of   the    Stethoscope. 
12mo. 
Richerand's  Physiology.  8vo. 

Saissy  on  the  Ear.  8vo. 

Svvediaur  on  Syphilis.  8vo. 

Scudamore  on  Gout.  8vo. 

Silliman's  Chemistry.  2  vols.  8vo. 

Smith  and  Tweedie  on  Fevers.  8vo. 

Smith's  Botanic  Physician.  8vo. 

Surgeon  Dentist's  Manual.  18mo. 

Symes'  Surgery.  8vo. 

Snell  on  Teeth.  8vo. 

Silliman's  Journal  of  Science  and  Art. 
8vo. 

Spurzheim's  Anatomy  of  the  Brain.  8vo. 

Spurzheim's  Phrenology.  2  vols.  Bvo. 

Spurzheim's  Pliysiognomy  applied  to 
Phrenology.  8vo. 

Spinal  Axis,  The,  plate  coloured. 

Thomson  on  Inflammation.  8vo. 


Teale  on  Neuralgia.  8vo. 

Tate  on  Hysteria.  8vo.  ' 

Thomson  on  Varioloid.  8vo. 

Travers  on  the  Eye,  coloured  plates.  8vo.' 

Thacher's  Dispensatory.  8vo. 

Thacher's  Practice.  8vo. 

Thomson's  Chemistry.  4  vols.  Bvo. 

Tweedie  on  Fever,  gvo. 

Tuson's  Dissector.  12mo. 

Ure's  Chemical  Dictionary.  2  vols.  8vo. 
Underwood  on  Diseases  of  Children.  8vo. 
United  States  Dispensatory.  8vo. 
United  States  Pharmacoepia.  8vo. 

Valpeau's  Anatomy.  2  vols.  8vo. 
Valpeau's  Midwifery.  8vo. 

Webb's  Philosophy  of  Medicine.  8vo. 
Wf'bster  on  Pestilence.  2  vols.  8vo. 
VVistar's  Anatomy.  2  vols.  8vo. 
Willan  on  the  Skin.  8vo. 
Webster's  Chemistry.  8vo. 
Williams  on  the  Lungs. 


FRENCH  MEDICAL  BOOKS. 


Adelon's  Physiologie  de  I'liomme.  4  vols. 
8vo. 
Andral's  Cliniqiic  Medicale.  H  vols.  8vo. 
Anglada's  Traite  des  Eaux  Miucralcs. 

Breschet  sur  le  Systemc  Viencux.  folio, 
coloured  plates. 

Bourdon  sur  Rrspiration. 

Bouillard  sur  lEiicophalil"';. 

Brouissais'  Examen.  4  vols. 

Brouissais'  Pathologic.  2  vnl.=). 

Brouissais'  Phlegmasia.  I)  vols. 

Begin's  Therapeutiquc  2  vols. 

Begin's  Physiohifiic.  2  vols. 

Boycr's  Chirurgerie.  11  vols. 

Boisseau's  Nosographic  Orgaiiique.  3  voU. 

Boisseau's  Pyretologie. 

Berzelius'  Chemie.  8vo. 

Blaud's  Physiologie.  2  vols. 

Brachat  sur  rOpium-  8vo. 

Bousquel's  Traite  de  la  Vaccine.  8vo. 

Boivin  and  Duges'  Traite  Pratique  de 
Maladies  del'Uterus.  2  large  vols,  and  atlas. 
$22  50. 

Calmiel's  Paralysie.  8vo. 

Cassan's  Cas  d^  rUtnrus  double. 

Caflin's  Inductions  Physiolosiqucs. 

Cruveilhicr's  Anatomic  Puthologiques,  co- 
loured plates. 

Cabanis'  Rapports  du  Physique  et  Moral. 
2  vols. 

Chopart's  Maladies  des  Voics  Urinaros. 
2  vols. 

Cabanis,  OUuvres  de,.  5  vols.  8vo. 

Des  Longchamps  Flora  nrtUira.  2  vols. 

Dictionaire  de  Chemie,  do  Mineralogie,  ct 
de  Geologic.  Bvo. 

Desmoulins  et  Magendie  Anatomic  des 
Systemos  Nerveux  des  Animaux  a  Verte- 
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cairn's  Island,  <fec. — 32.  Turner's  Sacred 
History  of  the  World.— 33,  34.  Mrs.  Jame- 
son's Memoirs  of  Celebrated  Female 
Sovereigns. — 3.3,  36.  Lander's  Africa. — 37. 
Abercrombie  on  the  Intellectual  Powers, 
&c.— .38,  39,  40.  St.  John's  Lives  of  Cele- 
brated Travellers.— 41,  42.  Lord  Dover's 
Life  of  Frederick  II.  King  of  Prussia. — 
43,  44.  Sketches  from  Venetian  History. 
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ster's Letters  on  Natural  Magic. — 51,  52. 
Taylor's  History  of  Ireland.— 53.  Discove- 
ries on  the  Northern  Coasts  of  America. 
—54.  Humboldt's  Travels.— 55,  .56.  Euler's 
Letters  on  Natural  Philosophy. — 57.  Mu- 
die's  Guide  to  the  Observation  of  Nature. 
— 58.  Abercrombie  on  the  Philosophy  of 
l\te  Moral  Feelings. — 59.  Dick  on  the 
iaiprovement  of  Society.— 60  James'  His- 
tory of  Charlemagne.— 61.  Russell's  His- 
tory of  Nubia  and  Abyssinia.— 62, 63.  Rus- 
Keirs  Life  of  Oliver  Crounvell.— H  65. 


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ers,  &.C.,  vols.  4  ife  5. 
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24 


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25 


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26 


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27 


VOYAGES    AND    TRAVELS. 


I 


Alexander's,  Captain  J.  E ,  Transatlantic 
Sketches.  8vo. 

Allen's,  Z  ,  Practical  Tourist,  or  Sketches 
in  Great  Brftain,  France,  and  Holland.  2 
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Bonycastle's  Travels  in  South  America. 
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and  Behring's  Straits.  8vo. 

Bigelow's,  A.,  Tour  in  Sicily  and  Malta. 
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Cook's  Voyages.  2  vols.  18mo. 

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River.  8vo. 

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Dunn's  Travels  in  Gautimala.  8vo. 

Dwight's  Travels  in  the  United  States. 
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Franklin's,  Sir  John,  Second  Expedition. 
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China.  12mo. 

Hobhoiise's  Travels  in  Albania.  2  vols. 
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Hamilton's,  Captain,  Men  and  Manners 
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Long's,  Major,  Second  Expedition  to  the 
Source  of  the  St.  Peter's  River.  2  vols.  8vo. 

Lewis  and  Clarke's  Travels.  2  vols.  8vo. 

Lander's  Discovery  and  Termination  of 
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Lafayette  in  America,  by  Levasseur.  2 
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McKenney's,  Colonel,  Tour  to  the  Lakes. 
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Morrell's,  Captain  B.,  Voyages  to  the 
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McLellan's,  J.,  Journal  of  a  Residence  in 
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Madden's,  Dr.,  Travels  in  Turkey.  2  vols. 
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Nuttal's  Travels.  2  vols.  I2mo. 

Parrv's  First,  Second,  and  Third  Voyages. 
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among  the  Islands  of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  and 
a  visit  to  the  Muigrave  Islands.  18mo. 

Post's  Visit  to  Greece.  8vo. 

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Slade's,  A.,  Travels  in  Turkey.  2  v.  ]2mo. 

Stuart  s,  J.,  Three  Years  in  North  Ame- 
rica. 8vo. 

Schoolcraft,  H.  R.,  Expedition  through  the 
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Subaltern's  Furlough,by  Lieutenant  Coke. 
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Vancouver's  Voyases.  6  vols.  8vo. 

View  of  the  Valley  of  the  Missis-sippi,  oi 
the  Emigrant's  and  Traveller's  Guide.  J2nio 

Vigne's,  G.  T.,  Six  Months  in  America 
18mo. 


28 


Wal-irs,  Dr.,  Travels  in  Constantinople, 
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Walsh's.  Dr ,  Notices  of  Brazil,  in  1826 
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WoodriUF's,  Samuel,  Tour  to  Malta. 
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of  Dravton.  2  vols.  8vo, 
of  R.  li.  Lee.  2  vols.  8vo. 
of  A,  Lee.  2  vols.  8 vo. 


29 


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Memoirs  of  W.  Pitt,  by  Tomlinson.  2  vols. 
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Remains   of  the  Rev.  E.  D.  Griffin,   by 
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ARTS    AND    SCIENCES. 


Arnot's  Elements  of  Physics.  2  vols.  Pvo. 

Allan's,  T.,  Science  of  Mechanics,  as  ap- 
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useful  Arts.  8vo. 

Bakewell's  Geology,  by  Silliman,  2d  edi- 
tion. 8vo. 

Bourchalet's  Treatise  on  Mechanics,  by 
Courtenay.  Pvo. 

Barton's  Flora  of  North  America,  coloured 
plates.  3  vols.  4to. 

Brunton's  Treatise  on  Mechanics,  by  Ren- 
wick.  12mo. 

Bigelow's  Plants  of  Boston.  Pvo. 

Bourdon's  Algebra,  by  Professor  Farar. 
8vo. 

Bigelow's,  Dr.,  Elements  of  Technology. 
8vo. 

Benjamin's,  A.,  Practice  of  Architecture. 
4to. 

Benjamin's,  A.,  Practical  Builder.  4to. 

Benjamin's,  A.,  Carpenter's  Guide.  4to. 

Brewster's,  Sir  D.,  Treatise  on  Optics, 
with  an  Appendix,  by  A.  D.  Eache.  J2mo. 

Bakewell's,  F.  C,  Philosophical  Conversa- 
tions. 12mo. 

Borden's  Elements  of  Algebra.  8vo. 

Conversations  on  Chemistry.  12mo. 

Carpenter's  Guide,  (Niciiolson's.)  4tn. 

Cuvier's.  Baron,  Discourses  on  the  Revo- 
lution of  the  Globe.   ]2mo. 

Cambridge's  Mathematics,  by  Professor 
Farar.   2  vols.  8vo. 

Courtenay's,  E.  H.,Treatise  on  Mechanics. 
8vo. 

Cuvier's  Animal  Kingdom,  translated  by 
E.  M.  McM'.irtric,  in  4  vols.  8vo.  plates. 

Conversations  on  Botany,  with  notes,  &c 
li'Wy  Blake.  ]2uio. 


Dj  la  Bccch^'s  Geoiocical  Manual.  8vo. 
c2 


Davies',  C,  Descriptive  Geometry.  8vo. 

Davies',  C,  Shades  and  Shadows.  8vo. 

Davies',  C,  Surveying.  8vo. 

Descrijition  of  the  Rail  Road,  from  Liver- 
pool to  Manchester,  translated  by  J.  C. 
Stocker.  18mo. 

Enfield's  Philosophy.  4fo. 

Eaton's,  A.,  Manual  of  Botany.  12mo. 

Eaton's  Geology. 

Eaton's  Geological  Text  Book.  8vo. 

Evans',  Oliver,  Millwright  and  Miller's 
Guide.  8vo. 

Electricity  and  Magnetism,  by  Professor 
Farar.  8vo. 

Euler's  Algpbra,  by  Professor  Farar.   8vo. 

Essays  on  Aniprican  Silk,  with  directions 
for  raising  Silk  Wornis.   12nio. 

Farar's,  Prof(»ssor,  Astronomy.  8vo. 
Fischer's  Elements  of  Natural  Philosophy, 
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Gregory's  Dictionary  of  the  Arts  and  Sci- 
ences. 3  vols.  4to. 

Gibson's  Surveying,  by  Ryan.  Pvo. 

Grund's,  F.,  Treatise  on  Ceometrv.  I2mo. 

GREGORY'S,  O.,  MATIIE.^IATICS  FOR 
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Comstock's  Outlines  of  Geology.  12mo. 

Comstock's  Mineralogy.  ]2mo. 

Guy's  Elements  of  Astronomy,  and  an 
Abridgment  of  Keith  on  the  Gli.bs.  12nio. 

Green's,  Jacob,  Text  Book  of  Chemical 
Science.  8vo. 

Hitchcock's,  Professor,  Reports  on  Gcolo 
gy,  Mineralogy,  Botany,  fcc,  of  Massachu- 
setts. 1  vol.  8vo.  and  utias. 

Hcrschtl's.  Sir  J.  F.  W.,  Treatise  on  As- 
tronuiiiv.  12;iio. 


I 


30 


Ilcrschel's,  Sir  J.  F.  W..  rreliminary  Dis- 
course on  ihe  Study  of  Natural  riiilosojihy. 
12mo. 

Hazzlers  Logarithmic  and  Trigonometric 
Tables,  r^uio. 

Katpr  and  Lardncr's  Treatise  on  Mecha- 
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Lardnnr,  Dr.  on  the  Steam  Enpine.  12mo. 

Lucas'  Complete  Drawing;  Book,  long  fo- 
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Lacroi.x's  Algebra,  by  Professor  Farar. 
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Lacroix's  and  Euler's  Algebra,  by  Profes- 
sor Farar.  8vo. 

Laj)!act;'s  Mechanique  Celeste,  by  Dr. 
Bowditcli.  -Ito. 

LeReiidre's  Geometry,  by  Farar.  8vo. 

Lamarck'.-^  Gi-nera  of  Sheila,  translated 
by  DubiiiiJ.  I'^ino. 

Liiiilley's,  John,  Introduction  to  the  Sys- 
tem of  Botany.  8vo. 

Lincoln's.  Mrs.,  Familiar  Lectures  on  Bo- 
tany. ]2ino. 

Lincoln's,  Mrs.,  Dictionary  of  Chemistry, 
l'3mo. 

Lessons  on  Shells.  IBmo. 

Mechanics,  by  Farar.  Pvo. 

Morse's,  E.  Manual  of  Mincraloj^y  and 
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Manual  of  the  Practical  Naturalist,  or  Di- 
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Berving  Subjects  in  Natural  History.  12mo. 

Nuttal's  Botany,  12mo. 
Nicholson's  Operative  Mechanic.    2  vol.?. 
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Optics,  Treatise  on,  by  Professor  Farar. 
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Prout,  Wm.,  on  Chemistry,  Meteorology, 
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Reports  on  Locomotive  and  Fixed  En- 
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Rcid  on  Clock  and  Watch  Making.  8vo. 

Renwick,  Professor,  Treatise  on  Mecha 
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Renwick,  Professor,  Treatise  on  Steam. 
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Robinson's  Catalogue  of  Minerals.  8vo. 

Strickland's,  W.,  Report  on  Rail  Roads 
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S;:anzin's  Etifrineerinjr  translated.   8vo 

Spurzlieim's,  G.,  Outline  of  Phrenology 
12nio. 

Spurzheim's,  G.,  Phrenological  Catechism 
12nio. 

Spurzheim's.G.,  Phrenolosry.  2  vols  8w©. 

Spurzheim's,  G.,  Natural  Laws  of  Man. 

Spurzhoims,  G.,  Physiosjnoniy.Bvo.  plaies. 

siicpliard's,  C.  M.,  Treatise  on  IMiueralo- 
gy.  12mo. 

Siiaw's,  Edward,  Civil  Architecture,  or  a 
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Trigonometry,  Treatise  on,  by  Farar. 
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Toporrrajihy,  Treat i?e  on,  by  Farar.  8vo. 

Treatise  nu  the  Manufacture  of  Porcelain 
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Tingrey's  Painter  and  Colourman's  Guide. 
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Wood's.  N.,  Treatise  on  Rail  Roads.  Bvo. 

Williams'  A.«trf)nomy.  12nio. 

Whewell's  Astronomy  and  General  Phy- 
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12mo. 

Walsh's,  T.  R.,  Familiar  Lessons  in  Mine* 
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Young's,  J.  R.,  Elements  of  Mechanica. 

8vo. 
Young's,  J.  R.,  Triconometry.  8vo. 
Young's,  J.  R.,  Difl'Tential  Calculus.  8vo. 
Younji's  J.  R.,  Algebra.  8vo. 
Young's,  J.  R.,  Integral  t^alculus. 
Young's,  J.  R.,  Analytical  Geometry. 
Young's,  J.  II.,  Elements  of  Geometry. 


WORKS    OF    FICTION 


Atlantic  Club  Book.  2  vols. 

Ayesha  by  Mnrier.  2  vols. 

Atlantic  Talc?,  by  Miss  Leslie.  IPmo. 

Arungzebe.  a  Tale  of  Alrachid.  2  vols. 

Aristocrat,  The    2  vols. 

Asmodcus  at  Large,  by  Bulwer.  ]2mo. 

Alice  Paulet,  a  Sequel  of  Sydenham. 
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Abbess,  The,  by  IMrs.  Trollope.  2  vols. 

Adventures  of  a  Younger  Son,  by  Trelaw- 
ney.  2  vo^s. 

AUiainbra,  by  W.  Irving.  12mo. 

Arlington,  by  the  Author  of  Granby. 
2  vols. 

American  Girls'  Book,  by  Miss  Leslie. 
I8mo. 

Anastasiiis.  2  vols. 

Aril'ctinir  f-'cencs  from  the  Diary  of  a  Phy- 
Biciii !i.  2  vols. 


Adventures  of  a  King's  Page.  2  vols. 

Bernardo  del  Carpio.  ]2mo. 

Book  of  Beauty,  by  Ij.  E.  li.  12mo. 

Buccaneer,  The,  by  Mrs.  S.  C.  Hall.  2  vols. 

Bravo,  The.  2  vols. 

Bertha's  Vi.cit.  2  vols. 

Book  of  the  Boudoir,  by  Lady  Morgan. 
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Boatrice,  by  Mrs.  Hofland.  2  vols. 

Buhver's  Ny^j,}^^  complete  in  11  vols. 
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Crayon  Sketches,  by  Fay.  2  vols. 


33 


Bayard,  J.,  on  the  Constitution.  12mo. 

Bache's  Manual. 

Binney's  Reports.  6  vols.  8vo. 

Bacon's  AbrKijrment. 

Ballentiiie  on  Limitation:?. 

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Bailey  on  Bill.^  of  Exchange. 

Beanies'  Pleas  in  Equity. 

Beck's  Medical  Jurisprudence. 

Beccaria  on  Crimes. 

Bingham  on  Infancy. 

Bigelow's  Digest. 

Blake's  Chancery. 

Bosanquet  and  Puller's  Reports. 

Burrows'  Reports. 

Burr's  Trial. 

Commercial  Directory  and  Digest  of  Laws 
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Cowen's  Reports.  8vo. 

Crabbe's  History  of  English  Law.  8vo. 

Chitty  on  Pleading.  .3  vols. 

Chitty  on  Criminal  Law. 

Chitty  on  Parties  to  Actions.  8vo. 

Chitty's  Practice. 

Chitty  on  Bills. 

Chitfy  on  Blackstone.  2  vols.  8vo. 

Chitty  on  the  Laws  of  Nations. 

Chitty  on  Contracts. 

Chitty's  Equity  Digest. 

Cherokee  Case. 

Chipman  on  Contracts. 

Clancy  on  Married  Women. 

Coke  upon  Lyttleton,  by  Thomas. 

Comyn  on  Contracts. 

Comyn's  Digest. 

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Cooper's  Chancery  Cases. 

Cooper's  Justinian. 

Cooper's  Equity  Pleadings. 

Cowen's  Reports.  9  vols. 

Coxe's  Chancery  Cases. 

Cruize  on  Real  Property. 

Dane's,  N.,  Abridgment  of  American 
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Duer's,  VV.  A.,  Outlines  of  Constitutional 
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Dunlap's  New  York  Practice. 

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East's  Reports,  by  Day. 

East's  Crown  Laws. 

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Epinasse  on  Evidence  ' 

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Equity  Draftsman. 

Evans'  Pleading. 

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Fell  on  Guarantees. 

Field's  Analysis  of  Blackstone. 

Gould  on  Pleading.  8vn. 
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Hughes',  D.,  on  Insurance.  8vo. 
Hughes',  S.,  Digested  Index,  8vo. 
Hovendon  on  Frauds.  8vo. 
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Hall  on  Loans. 
Hall's  Admiralty  Practice. 
Hammond's  \isi  Prius. 
Harris'  Entries. 
Henning's  Justice. 
Highniore  on  Lunacy. 
Hoffman's  Legal  Study. 
Hall  on  Libels. 
Hovenden's  Supplement  to  Vesey,  Jr 

Johnson's  Reports.  20  vols.  8vo. 

Johnson's  Chancery  Reports.   7  vols.  8vo. 

Johnson's  Index. 

Jeremy's  Equity.  8vo. 

Ingers<dl'8  Abridgment. 

Ingraham  on  Insolvency. 

Jacobson's  Sea  Laws. 

Jacobs  and  Walker's  Chancery  Reports. 

Jacobs'  Law  Dictionary. 

Jones  on  Bailment. 

Kent's  Commentary  on  American  Law 
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Kyd  on  Awards. 

Long  on  Sales.  8vo. 
Laws  on  Pleading. 
Livermore  on  Agency. 

Mathews,  J.,  on  Evidence,  by  Rand.  8vo 

Massochiisetts  Reports.  17  vols.  8vo. 

Mason's  Reports.  8vo. 

Miiford's  Pleadings. 

Maule  and  Selwyn's  Reports. 

Maildock's  Chancery  Practice.  2  vols. 

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McNally's  Evidence. 

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Metcalf  s  Digest. 

Montagu  on  Jiien. 

Montagu  on  Sett  Off. 

Montefiores'  Precedents. 

Newland's  Chancery  Practice. 
Nowland's  Contracts. 
Noy's  Maxims. 

Oliver's  American  Precedents.  8vo. 

Pickering's,  O.,  Reports.  II  vols.  8vo. 

Purdon's,  John,  Digest  of  the  Laus  of 
Pennsylvania.  8vo. 

Philips  on  Insurance 

Peters',  R.,  Condensed  Reports  of  Supreme 
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34 


Peters',  R.,  Supreme  Court  Reports.  8vo. 

Peters',  U  ,  Cuiidenseil  Chancery  Kepurts. 

relersdorft's  Abri(1f,'meiU.  15  Vdls.  rvo. 

Paine  and  Duer's  New  York  rraclice. 

Pal  y  on  Agency. 

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Powel  on  Coniracls. 

Powel  on  Devises. 

Powel  on  Mortgages. 

Powel  on  Powers. 

Preston  on  Estates. 

Preston  on  Legacies. 

Report  of  tlie  Trial  of  Judge  Peck.    8vo. 

Roscoe  on  Evidence.  Hvo. 

Roper  on  Legacies.  Bvo. 

Rawie  on  the  Constitution. 

Randall's  Peake's  Evidence. 

Reads  Precedents. 

Revised  Code  of  New  York. 

Roberts  on  Wills. 

Roberts  on  Frauds. 

Roberts  on  Fraudulent  Conveyancing. 

Roper  on  Wills. 

Roper  on  the  Laws  of  Husband  and  Wife. 

Russell  on  Crimes. 

Russell's  Chancery  Reports. 

Sudden  on  Venders.  8vo. 

Sugden  on  Powers.  8vo. 

Starkie  on  Slander,  now  edition.   2  vols. 

Sergeant  and  Lowbur's  Common  Law 
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Story's,  Judge,  Commentaries.  3voIs.8vo. 

Story's,  Judge,  Commcutaries,  abridged, 
J  vol.  8vo. 


Story's,  Judge.  Laws  of  the  United  States. 
.1  vols. 

Stevens   and   Berucckc   on   Average,  by 
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Stearns  on  Real  Actions.  8vo. 

Story  on  Bailments.  8vo. 

Saunders  on  Pleading  and   Evidence- 
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Salkeld's  Reports. 

Saunders  on  Uses  and  Trusts. 

Saunders'  Reports,  by  Williams. 

Sellons  Practice. 

Selwyu's  Nisi  Prius. 

Sercoant  on  Attachment. 

Sergeant's  Constitutional  Law. 

Starkie  on  Evidence,  new  edition.  2  vol*. 

Stephens  on  Pleading. 

Swanslon's  Chancery  Reports. 

Swift's  Digest. 

Thomas'  Coke  Littleton.  3  vols.  8vo. 
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Tidd's  Practice.  2  vols.  dvo. 
Taunton's  Reports. 
Tidd's  Practice. 
Tomlin's  Index. 
Trouhat  and  llaly's  Digest. 
Tuckers  lilackstone. 

Vesey,  Jr.  and  Vesey  and  Beame's  Sup- 
plement. '24  vols  8vo. 

Vescy"s,  Sen.,  Chancery  Reports.  2  vols. 
Vernon's  Charu;ery  Reports. 
Viuer's  Abridgment. 
Vattel's  Law  of  Nations. 

Wendall's.  J.  L.,  Reports. 
Williams  on  E.xecutors.  2  vols.  8vo. 
Wentworlh  on  Executors.  8yo. 


I 


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Cat.  no.     1137 

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